By analogy with yesterday, futures on US stock indices declined on Thursday following another increase in response to the results of Wednesday's regular session. Traders continue to familiarize themselves with the reports of the world's major corporations and react positively to them on average. Futures contracts linked to the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 99 points or 0.3%. Futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.
Following yesterday's findings, the Nasdaq Composite increased by over 1.6%; this is the fourth positive session in the past five days. The technology index increased by approximately 3.9% over the past week. The Dow and S&P 500 gained almost 1.9 percent and 2.5 percent over the past week.
The market bulls are back due to positive news. In recent days, we have witnessed a fairly rapid expansion of the technology sector and the active expansion of the cryptocurrency market, which also falls into the category of risky assets.
Today, the focus will be on applications for unemployment benefits in the United States, which have been rising over the past few weeks. However, tiny movements in this indicator are unlikely to impact the market significantly.
Premarket
Today, a report from American Airlines was issued. The company became profitable in the second quarter. According to projections, the third quarter is also likely to be profitable, which is another evidence of the significant demand for travel, even at relatively high rates. The adjusted earnings per share of 76 cents aligned with what economists had predicted. $13.42 billion in total sales as opposed to the predicted $13.40 billion.
Alcoa and CSX stocks rose in premarket trading after the firms surpassed analyst projections. Following the automaker's announcement of earnings that exceeded expectations, Tesla's stock price also jumped modestly.
In other business-related news, Carnival's shares plunged more than 10 percent after the cruise line announced the sale of more shares for $1 billion.
AT&T and Snap will release earnings reports later today.
As for the S&P 500's technical picture,
The bulls are hopeful, especially following yesterday's successful breach and consolidation above the $ 3,945 barrier. Attention has now gone to the next resistance level at $ 3,975. Above this level, the index will experience moderately active growth in the vicinity of $ 4,013, when significant sellers will return to the market. There will be at least those who wish to lock in profits on long positions. A more distant objective will be $4,050. If weak business reports return to cause the pressure, purchasers will need to defend the closest support at $3,945, a breach that will drive the index back to $ 3,905. After failing to reach this level, the index will fall to around $ 3,835. The more stable level of $ 3,801 is where buyers will begin to act more aggressively once again.
