US stock futures edged higher on Wednesday, with S&P 500 futures up 0.2%, Nasdaq 100 futures gaining 0.1%, and Dow futures rising by about 130 points. Investors are focused on a fresh round of economic data due today, including PCE inflation and ADP employment figures, which will help shape expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next policy moves. Markets are currently pricing in roughly a 45% probability of a 25 bp rate hike in October, down from around 70% last Friday.
In premarket trading, Nvidia was up 0.4%, Alphabet gained 1%, and Tesla added 0.2%, while Micron advanced 0.3% ahead of its earnings release after the closing bell. Boeing climbed 3.3% after securing an agreement with the Pentagon and the US Navy to develop the next generation of fighter jets.
September and the third quarter have been characterized by heightened volatility, as investors have weighed the impact of rising oil prices and higher Treasury yields against continued optimism surrounding artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 is little changed for September and up about 2.5% for the quarter. The Nasdaq has gained roughly 1% this month and 2.3% in Q3, while the Dow is on track for a decline of about 3% in September and 1.6% for the quarter.
