U.S. stock futures were largely unchanged on Friday, as investors awaited key data and court decisions that could shape the economic outlook.
As of 5:05 P.M. (GMT+7), Dow Jones Industrial Average futures increased slightly by 0.02%, or 10.50 points, to 49,276.20 points, while S&P 500 futures added by 0.06%, or 4.30 points, to 6,925.70 points. Nasdaq 100 futures also edged up by 0.12%, or 31.70 points, to 25,538.80 points.
Market attention has turned to two pivotal events: the December nonfarm payrolls release and a potential Supreme Court ruling regarding President Donald Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs.
The labor market update is drawing heightened scrutiny after previous months’ reports were disrupted or canceled due to a federal government shutdown. The December report, closely watched by Wall Street, is expected to shed light on recent conflicting labor market signals.
According to a Bloomberg survey, economists anticipate that U.S. payrolls will increase by about 70,000, while the unemployment rate is projected to edge down to 4.5%. The data arrives less than three weeks before the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate decision, and is likely to factor heavily into the central bank’s policy deliberations.
Investors are also bracing for a Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s widespread tariffs, which the court scheduled Friday as an opinion day. The outcome will determine whether President Trump was within his rights to use national emergency laws to impose sweeping duties, a decision that could have significant consequences for U.S. trade strategy and global commerce.
In addition, traders continue to weigh the broader effects of Trump’s drive for a $200 billion federal purchase of mortgage-backed securities, aimed at bringing mortgage rates lower and easing affordability pressures. Specifics on the proposal, however, remain limited.
Despite this week’s uncertainty, all three main U.S. indexes are tracking modest gains. The S&P 500 has advanced nearly 1% so far, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up about 1.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite posting a 1.1% rise for the first complete trading week of 2026.
