U.S. stock futures exhibited muted movement on Friday, stabilizing after recent declines from all-time highs as investors grappled with a dearth of economic data amid an ongoing government shutdown and awaited the imminent onset of earnings season.
As of 04:52 P.M. (GMT+7), Dow Jones futures increased 7.90 points, or 0.02%, to 46,366.30 points. The other two indexes, however, fell as S&P 500 futures saw a decrease by 2.50 points, down 0.04%, to 6,732.60 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures fell by 14.10 points, or 0.06%, to 25,084.10 points.
Investor attention is turning to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey, set for release at 10 A.M. ET on Friday. With government data releases on hold due to the shutdown, this report is expected to be especially influential for market sentiment.
The partial federal government shutdown extended into its ninth day on Thursday, with congressional negotiations remaining at a standstill. Efforts to pass a temporary funding measure have stalled in the Senate for a seventh consecutive time.
Nevertheless, there are emerging signals that a breakthrough could be possible, as some Republican lawmakers express willingness to negotiate over healthcare subsidies—one of the key demands from Democrats for supporting a funding agreement.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that the Bureau of Labor Statistics is planning to issue September’s Consumer Price Index by the end of the month. This release will provide markets with much-needed economic data and shape expectations regarding potential Federal Reserve interest rate reductions later this year.
With a wave of third-quarter results already setting the stage, investors are poised for the official kick-off of earnings season next week, headlined by major banks including JPMorgan and Citigroup. Analysts anticipate a subdued performance, forecasting that higher tariffs will weigh on corporate revenues for the quarter.
