US stock futures rose as Wall Street prepared for the release of the February jobs report, with investors navigating market uncertainties fueled by President Donald Trump’s unpredictable trade policies.
Stock Futures Move Higher
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) increased by 0.1%, while futures for the S&P 500 (ES=F) gained 0.2%. Futures for the Nasdaq Composite (NQ=F) saw a larger jump of 0.3%.
Impact of Trade Policy and Tariff Concerns
On Thursday, President Trump announced a pause in tariffs on certain goods from Mexico and Canada, but the news did not prevent stocks from falling to session lows. In response, Canada stated it would delay a second round of retaliatory tariffs. Meanwhile, Mexico has not yet disclosed its response to the new tariffs.
Worries Over AI Demand
Wall Street has also been grappling with concerns about weakening demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. A cautious earnings forecast from Marvell (MRVL) caused its stock to drop, negatively impacting other chipmakers, including Nvidia (NVDA).
Positive News for AI Market
Later in the trading day, more optimistic news emerged for the AI market. Broadcom (AVGO) posted strong earnings and a positive second-quarter forecast, leading to a surge in its stock price. In after-hours trading, shares of Nvidia and Marvell stabilized.
Jobs Report to Cap the Week
The February jobs report, due on Friday, will conclude a week marked by uncertainty. Despite market concerns, economists largely expect the report to show hiring growth while the unemployment rate remains steady. This data is unlikely to confirm fears of slowing economic growth, offering a hopeful outlook for markets.
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