Friday, December 26

S&P 500 Futures Rise amid Hot Jobs, Fewer Cut Bets


US stock futures are pointing higher this morning, with contracts linked to the S and P 500 up about 0.3 percent, as investors juggle strong US jobs signals against shifting interest rate hopes. Weekly jobless claims dropped to 214,000, meaning fewer people are filing for unemployment and the job market is still running warm, which can keep wages and prices firm. At the same time, the 10 year Treasury yield has eased to around 4.16 percent and markets now see only up to two interest rate cuts next year. This mix pulls rate sensitive sectors such as tech, small caps and real estate sharply into focus as investors weigh growth against the risk that borrowing costs stay higher for longer.

Today’s tricky mix of hot jobs data and stubborn yields makes undervalued stocks based on cash flows more urgent than ever.

  • NIKE (NKE) climbed 4.64 percent after Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly praised the brand.

  • Micron Technology (MU) rose 3.77 percent as investors rotated into leading memory and AI infrastructure plays.

  • Target (TGT) gained 2.36 percent on steady consumer demand and optimism around holiday traffic.

Is Target still a smart investment or just hype? Read our most popular narrative and get all the answers you need.

NKE 1-Year Stock Price Chart
NKE 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Look past the noise – uncover the top narrative that explains what truly matters for Datadog’s long-term success.

ASTS 1-Year Stock Price Chart
ASTS 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Macro focus will stay firmly on global central banks and growth signals as investors recalibrate US rate cut expectations.

  • Japan Policy Watch: BoJ Summary of Opinions (BOJDTR) on Sunday may hint at timing and pace of any future tightening.

  • US Labor Signals: Fresh jobless claims this week will test whether today’s surprisingly low filings are the start of a new downtrend.

  • US Growth Pulse: Upcoming industrial production and capacity utilization revisions will clarify whether manufacturing is stabilizing or slipping back.

  • Global Tech Demand: Latest Taiwan industrial production surge will help gauge how durable the AI and electronics rebound really is.

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Look past today’s headline moves and focus on the innovators quietly building tomorrow’s winners, because these windows never stay open for long. 24 AI penny stocks is poised at the center of the AI spending wave and packed with scalable, high conviction growth stories.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com



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