Stock futures inched higher on Wednesday night as investors turned their attention to September's payrolls report scheduled for release later this week. Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 40 points, or less than 0.1%, while S&P 500 futures advanced by 0.1% and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed by 0.2%.
In after-hours trading, denim maker Levi Strauss experienced a sharp decline, plummeting 10.2% after reporting mixed results for the fiscal third quarter. The company also indicated that it is contemplating a sale of its Dockers business, which has been a drag on overall performance.
The start of October has been challenging for traders, with escalating tensions in the Middle East dampening enthusiasm. Stocks faced significant pressure on Tuesday following Iran's missile attack on Israel, and uncertainty looms as Israel initiates a ground operation in Lebanon.
On Wednesday, the three major U.S. indices finished slightly above the flatline, with the S&P 500 adding a mere 0.01%, the Nasdaq Composite rising by 0.08%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining approximately 39 points, or 0.09%.
Data from ADP released on Wednesday indicated that private sector hiring was better than expected in September, offering a glimpse of resilience in the labour market.
Investors will be keeping a close watch on additional labour market data set to be released on Thursday, including initial jobless claims. However, the primary focus for traders - and the Federal Reserve, as it navigates a rate-cutting cycle - will be September's payrolls report, due on Friday morning.
