U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday evening after Wall Street’s main indexes closed largely lower after record high levels, as investors awaited key U.S. labor market data later in the week.
S&P 500 Futures inched up 0.1% to 6,967.0 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures were largely unchanged at 25,837.25 points by 20:03 ET (01:03 GMT). Dow Jones Futures gained 0.1% 49,263.0 points.
Get expert stock analysis, AI recommendations with InvestingPro Wall St slips from record highs; jobs data awaited During the regular session, the S&P 500 fell 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.9%. The NASDAQ Composite edged up 0.2%, supported by selective gains in large-cap technology shares, which helped limit broader market losses.
The S&P 500 and Dow had hit record highs in the previous session. The mixed performance reflected some profit-taking after recent gains.
Data from payrolls processor ADP showed that private sector employment increased by less than expected in December, pointing to a moderation in hiring momentum toward the end of the year.
While the report is often viewed as volatile and not always a reliable predictor of official government data, it reinforced signs that the labor market may be gradually cooling.
Attention now turns to Friday’s closely watched nonfarm payrolls report, which is expected to provide a clearer picture of employment conditions and wage growth.
The data will be a key input for markets assessing the likelihood and timing of potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in the coming months. Softer-than-expected job growth could strengthen expectations that the Fed may begin easing policy sooner in 2026.
US-Venezuela tensions in focus Geopolitical tensions remained elevated following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but markets have so far shown little sustained reaction to the dramatic developments.
Investors have largely shrugged off geopolitical risks, though the situation has added another layer of uncertainty to the outlook for energy markets.
President Donald Trump said interim authorities in Venezuela would turn over as much as 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.
