US stocks were poised to resume gains on Thursday as investors weighed how deeply the Federal Reserve might lower interest rates in September on the eve of a key speech by Chair Jerome Powell.
Futures on the S&P 500 (ES=F) and on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) rose roughly 0.2%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) were up 0.1%, after the three indexes closed in the green on Wednesday.
Stocks took a positive tone after minutes from the Fed's last meeting showed several officials were open to a July rate cut, signaling a pivot is likely in next month's policy decision. Mounting hopes for lower rates have already helped markets recoup losses from an early August rout.
Investors are now waiting for fresh labor market data and for the kickoff of the Fed's Jackson Hole symposium later Thursday. The week's highlight is Powell's speech at the event on Friday, with the market on high alert for any shift in tone from the Fed chair.
Thursday's reading on jobless claims is in higher focus, given an official revision to payrolls showed the labor market — a key input for policymakers — may have been cooling long before initially thought. Signs of stress could factor into how deeply the Fed cuts rates, with hopes for a 0.5% reduction in play.
On the corporate front, Paramount (PARA) shares rose in premarket trading after media executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. sweetened his takeover bid to $6 billion. Meanwhile, Snowflake (SNOW) stock sank as its sales outlook disappointed investors' hopes for an AI boost.