S&P 500 Futures gained 0.2% to 5,103.0 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures added 0.2% to 17,924.50 points and Dow Jones Futures advanced 0.2% to 38,125.0 points
U.S. stock index futures gained slightly in evening deals on Tuesday, as Wall Street seemed to be steadying after concerns of higher-for-longer interest rates triggered a string of sharp losses.
But risk appetite remained fragile, particularly as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East persisted, while top Fed officials also reiterated the central bank’s outlook on steady interest rates.
S&P 500 Futures gained 0.2% to 5,103.0 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures added 0.2% to 17,924.50 points by 23:37 GMT. Dow Jones Futures advanced 0.2% to 38,125.0 points.
Wall Street indexes marked a mixed close on Tuesday, as some positive earnings were largely offset by Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinting that recent signs of sticky inflation gave the central bank less confidence to trim interest rates early.
Powell’s comments came following hotter-than-expected inflation and retail sales readings for March, which suggested that inflation was likely to remain well above levels the Federal Reserve was comfortable with. This also saw traders largely price out expectations for a June rate cut.
The S&P 500 dropped 0.2% to 5,051.41 points, while the NASDAQ Composite shed 0.1% to end at 15,865.25 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was the sole gainer among its peers, advancing 0.2% to 37,798.97 points on strength in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, after the insurer clocked strong Q1 earnings.
Wall Street also seemed to be steadying after dropping between 1.5% and 2.3% over the last five sessions, as worsening risk appetite saw investors lock-in recent profits.
Markets were rattled by a worsening crisis in the Middle East, after Iran launched a strike against Israel, while the latter was now seen preparing a response.
