Europe Asia News

S&P 500 futures rose 0.1% to 6,987.75 points, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.1% to 25,908.0 points, while Dow Jones futures traded up 0.1% at 49,057.0 points.

US stock markets were closed on Thursday for Christmas after an early close on Wednesday, leading to lower trading volumes and muted movements in futures.

Staffing levels were thin across many institutional desks, and major markets in Europe and Asia were on holiday, with participants citing weak liquidity as the reason futures remained in a narrow range.

Earlier in the week, the S&P 500 reached a new record closing level, supported by stronger-than-expected US economic growth in the third quarter and optimism over an expanding recovery.

Gross domestic product was reported to have grown at an annual rate of 4.3%, the fastest pace in two years, supporting expectations that the broader economy would remain resilient.

In addition, renewed interest in technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks, combined with market speculation that the US Federal Reserve could cut interest rates in 2026, underpinned gains.

According to analysts, markets are set to return to full trading capacity on Friday after the holiday, with investors monitoring economic data and their positions through year-end, while also watching historically low trading volumes and the potential seasonal “Santa Claus Rally” often seen in late December.