FX.co ★ US Futures Steady After Tech-Driven Rally

U.S. stock futures showed minimal movement on Thursday following a strong performance of the major indices the previous day, driven primarily by a surge in technology stocks. On Wednesday, the Nasdaq Composite climbed by 0.94% to reach a new record high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 experienced increases of 0.49% and 0.61%, respectively, each marking their first positive closing in three sessions. The technology sector fueled this rally, supported by continued investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence advancements. Noteworthy gains were seen in Nvidia, which rose by 1.8%, and Palantir, which surged 2.5%. In terms of corporate developments, Verona Pharma saw a significant 20.6% increase following reports that Merck is set to acquire the UK-based lung disease specialist in a deal valued at $10 billion. On the policy side, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday evening a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, citing concerns over unfair trade practices. Meanwhile, the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s meeting in June revealed that policymakers perceived the new tariffs as potentially inflationary, leading them to refrain from enacting interest rate cuts.