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U.S. stock index futures traded flat to lower Thursday evening as investors weighed sticky inflation data against relief from a delay in U.S. trade tariffs. Futures held steady following a strong Wall Street session driven by tech stock rallies and optimism over U.S.-Russia peace talks.
S&P 500 Futures remained at 6,134.50 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures dipped 0.1% to 22,086.0 points, and Dow Jones Futures stayed flat at 44,827.0 points.
Investor sentiment improved after President Donald Trump signed an executive order outlining reciprocal trade tariffs but held off on immediate implementation. Earlier in the week, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and indicated higher tariffs were coming without a set timeline.
Wall Street also found support from lower Treasury yields despite a hotter-than-expected January producer price index (PPI) reading. PPI data, while elevated, hinted at possible softness in components affecting the Federal Reserve’s preferred PCE price index. A softer PCE print could signal more room for rate cuts, though Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned that the central bank remains cautious on easing monetary policy.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January also exceeded forecasts, signaling persistent inflation pressures.
Despite inflation concerns, major tech stocks surged amid falling yields. Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) rose 3.2%, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) gained 2%, and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) jumped nearly 6% after hitting a 2.5-month low.
On Thursday, the S&P 500 climbed 1% to 6,115.07 points, nearing a record high. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.5% to 19,945.64 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.8% to 44,711.49 points.
