The Dow could be ready to cinch the longest winning streak since February on Thursday, with U.S. stock futures rising ahead of inflation data that could help decide the path of future Federal Reserve policy.
What are markets doing?
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 22 points, or less 0.1%, to 24,525, while S&P 500 futures rose 5.50 points, or 0.2%, to 2,701.50. Nasdaq-100 futures gained 11 points, or 0.2%, to 6,907.
The Dow on Wednesday booked a fifth gain in a row, rising 182.33 points, or 0.8%, to 24,542.54, for its longest winning run since February, when the benchmark advanced for six sessions in a row. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index each gained 1%.
What is driving the markets?
An upbeat trading mood was hanging in there on Thursday, with traders largely shrugging off fresh geopolitical concerns that came after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal.
The decision to abandon the accord and reimpose sanctions on the Middle Eastern country sparked a rally in oil prices that continued on Thursday with West Texas Intermediate crude rising 0.5% to its highest level since November 2014.
What data are coming up?
Consumer-price inflation data for April due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time could also help steer the market action later on Thursday. Economists polled by MarketWatch expect a reading of 0.3%, up from negative 0.1% in March. Inflation is one of the key metrics the Fed looks at when deciding the speed of interest rates hikes.
Weekly jobless claims are due out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, while the federal budget is due at 2 p.m.
There were no Federal Reserve speakers scheduled to speak on Thursday.
What are strategists saying?
“Markets are continuing to react to Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Iranian sanctions waiver, however, it is very interesting to see there has not been a significant safe haven flow that has arisen, in fact risk appetite is looking quite positive,” said Richard Perry, market analyst at Hantec Markets, in a note.
While the oil rally looks set to continue, “any dose of higher than expected inflation will sent yields higher with equities feeling the pinch,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities, in a Thursday note to clients.
What stocks are in focus?
Shares of Roku Inc. rallied 4.6% ahead of the opening bell after the streaming company late Wednesday reported forecast-beating earnings and issued better-than-expected second-quarter guidance.
U.S.-listed shares of Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC jumped 4.3% premarket after news it will pay $4.9 billion in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over its role in the mis-selling of toxic mortgage-backed securities between 2005 and 2007. The settlement was smaller than feared and is seen as clearing the way for the U.K. government to sell its 71% stake it still holds in the lender.
On the earnings docket, AMC Entertainment Holding Inc. jumped 3% in premarket after profit and revenue rose well above forecasts. NVIDIA Corp. and News Corp. are slated to release results after the closing bell. News Corp. is the owner of MarketWatch, the publisher of this report.
What are other markets doing?
Asian markets closed mostly higher, while European stocks traded mixed. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index was flat after the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee left key interest rate unchanged on so-called “Super Thursday” — when its meeting minutes and quarterly inflation report are released at the same time.
The dollar declined against most other major currencies, while gold inched 0.3% higher.
— Barbara Kollmeyer contributed to this report