US stock futures rise near record highs on optimism over economy and lower interest rates

From Investing.com: 2024-11-28 19:38:30

U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday evening near record highs, driven by optimism over the strong U.S. economy and lower interest rates. Reports of milder U.S. trade tariffs on China boosted sentiment, with investors expecting a less severe trade war. Markets remained unfazed by conflicts in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Hezbollah.

Major indices like the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq have seen modest gains in November, with technology stocks facing some pullback due to weak earnings and increased regulatory scrutiny. Despite this, economically sensitive sectors have helped keep U.S. stock benchmarks close to record highs. The Dow has been the best performer among its peers.

Investors are focusing on comments from Fed officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, for insights on interest rates as the December meeting approaches. Markets are expecting a 25 basis point cut, bringing the total rate cuts in 2019 to 100 bps. However, concerns arise over a potential slowdown in rate cuts in 2020, as sticky inflation may prompt a higher terminal rate from the Fed. The Fed’s final meeting of the year is scheduled for December 17 and 18.



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