U.S. stock futures were steady on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT) after the S&P 500 achieved another record close.
By 10:20 am AEDT (11:20 pm GMT) Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures edged up 0.1%, and S&P 500 futures remained unchanged.
During the regular session, the S&P 500 gained a modest 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4%, with both indices reaching record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, falling 0.2%.
The subdued start to December contrasts with the robust gains seen in November, which were driven by market optimism following Donald Trump’s electoral victory.
Market participants are closely monitoring this week's labour market data, with Tuesday's JOLTS data revealing 7.74 million job openings in October, surpassing forecasts.
Investors now turn focus toward Wednesday’s ADP private payrolls report for November, which is expected to show an increase of 150,000 positions. Additional economic releases include the S&P Global U.S. Services PMI, factory orders, and durable goods data.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to participate in a moderated discussion in New York on Wednesday afternoon, providing potential insights into monetary policy.
On the corporate front, companies including Chewy, Dollar Tree, and Foot Locker are scheduled to release their earnings reports.