Here’s what we’re watching before the opening bell on Thursday.
–US stock futures rose as investors looked past Wednesday night’s storm in Congress for a pro-Trump crowd that interrupted the Senate’s confirmation of Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Futures contracts linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.3%, suggesting that the blue-chip stock index will extend a high that pushed it to a record high close on Wednesday. The S&P 500 futures also rose 0.5%.
Futures on the Nasdaq-100 index gained 0.8%, suggesting that tech giant stocks may recover some of their losses. Technology stocks suffered a loss on Wednesday when investors invested in other stocks that are more dependent on economic growth.
What’s coming
—Weekly unemployment insurance claims were lower than expected, totaling 787,000 in the week of January 2, against expectations of 815,000. Trade data showed a larger than expected deficit for November, of US $ 68.1 billion, compared to a deficit of US $ 63.1 billion in the previous month.
Market movers to watch
– Bed Bath & Beyond’s shares plunged more than 14% in the pre-market after sales and profits were weaker than expected in the third quarter. The company blamed Covid-19, which meant fewer customers in its stores and shipping problems.