U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Thursday, as traders awaited weekly jobless claims and upcoming inflation figures for fresh signals on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
As of 5:55 a.m. ET, Dow futures edged up 0.1%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures each slipped 0.1%. Wall Street closed lower for a second straight session on Wednesday, pressured by weakness in tech stocks and uncertainty over Fed easing.
Earlier this week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that policy decisions carry “no risk-free path,” fueling a more cautious market tone after last week’s quarter-point rate cut. Investors are now awaiting jobless claims, revised Q2 GDP, and Friday’s PCE inflation report.
Concerns over a potential U.S. government shutdown also weighed on sentiment, with reports that federal agencies have been instructed to prepare layoff plans.
On the corporate front, Accenture (NYSE:ACN) is set to report earnings before the bell, with attention on its AI consulting business. Apple supplier Jabil (NYSE:JBL) is also due to release results, while Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) gained on reports it is in talks with Apple over a potential investment.
In energy markets, oil retreated from seven-week highs reached Wednesday after a surprise U.S. inventory draw and Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities. Brent crude stood at $68.93, while WTI traded at $64.56 per barrel.
