US stock futures rose on Friday as a closely watched inflation gauge kept up momentum on cooling inflation and investors absorbed the fallout of the Biden-Trump debate.
S&P 500 futures (ES=F) advanced roughly 0.3% after the benchmark closed a step nearer to its record high. Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) were also 0.4% higher, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) hovered above the flatline.
The gauges are eyeing an upbeat end to a bumpy week that saw the S&P 500 (^GSPC) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) come back from a three-day losing streak. While stocks are set to book a stellar first half as they head into the last trading day of June, those wobbles have fanned fears of a pullback in the rest of the year.
The last significant data point of that first half came in the latest reading of the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, which Yahoo Finance’s Josh Schafer reported showed inflation eased in May as prices increased at their slowest pace since March 2021.
The core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, which strips out the cost of food and energy and is closely watched by the Fed, rose 0.1 % in May from the prior month, in line with Wall Street’s expectations.
Meanwhile, with November’s US election high on the list of risks, investors took note of President Joe Biden’s weak showing in his first debate with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. The former president’s promised tax cuts and trade clampdown are seen as likely to boost stocks. Shares in Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) jumped in pre-market trading.
The market is also on alert for more signs that consumer resilience is losing steam, as key companies flag downbeat prospects for sales. Nike (NKE) stock sank almost 15% in pre-market trading, while Walgreens (WBA) shares stayed under pressure on the heels of Thursday’s 22% tumble.
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