United States stock futures were little changed on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT) as investors continued to digest mixed U.S. economic data released earlier in the week.
By 10:45 am AEDT (11:45 pm GMT) Dow futures and S&P 500 futures eased 0.1% apiece, while Nasdaq 100 futures ticked 0.2% lower.
In extended trading, shares of Lennar fell 4.2% after the homebuilder issued weaker-than-expected guidance for the first quarter, weighing on sentiment in the housing sector.
Markets have been focused on delayed labour market data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which included figures for both October and November following disruptions caused by the government shutdown earlier this year.
The report showed the U.S. economy shed 105,000 jobs in October, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, its highest level since September 2021.
However, payrolls rebounded modestly in November, with 64,000 jobs added, beating the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 45,000.
U.S. equities closed mixed on Tuesday as investors assessed the implications of the data for growth and monetary policy. The S&P 500 declined 0.2%, while the Dow dropped 302 points, or 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite ticked up 0.2%.
Looking ahead, investors will be watching remarks from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller and New York Fed President John Williams, scheduled for later on Wednesday, as markets seek further clarity on the central bank’s policy outlook.
Attention is also turning to Thursday’s release of the November consumer price index, which is expected to provide fresh insight into inflation trends and help shape expectations for future interest rate decisions.
