On December 2, 2025, stock futures rose modestly as traders anticipated upcoming inflation data that could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions. Futures linked to the Dow increased by 0.1%, S&P by 0.2%, and Nasdaq by 0.3%. Notably, Netflix shares dropped 3% after announcing a $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s movie and streaming assets, expected to close in 12 to 18 months.
Traders are closely monitoring economic indicators, with the November jobs report due after the Fed’s meeting on December 10, and the delayed Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) report expected to provide critical inflation insights. The University of Michigan’s consumer survey will also be released, shedding light on inflation sentiment.
Recently, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw slight gains, bolstered by tech stocks like Meta and Nvidia. Despite a report indicating rising layoffs due to restructuring and AI, new jobless claims remained low, which has not shifted market expectations concerning the Fed’s plans. Traders are now pricing in an 87% likelihood of a 0.5% interest rate cut at the next Fed meeting.
Investment strategist Sonali Basak noted the mixed signals in the data, highlighting the uncertain outlook for inflation in 2026. Overall, stocks have seen slight gains this week, with the S&P up 0.1% and the Nasdaq and Dow rising by approximately 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively.
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