U.S. stock futures showed little movement Thursday as traders awaited key economic releases to gauge the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook. Accenture and Jabil are scheduled to report earnings before the market opens, while President Donald Trump is reportedly set to sign an executive order concerning a potential deal for TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Markets hold steady
By 03:44 ET, futures tied to the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 were mostly unchanged, following Wednesday’s modest pullback in equities. The main U.S. indices retreated as investors digested cautious statements from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who provided no clear guidance on the next steps for interest rates after last week’s 25-basis point cut.
Strong August single-family home sales data added context, signaling a resilient economy that might need less monetary support. All eyes now turn to Friday’s key inflation reading, closely monitored by the central bank.
Shares of Micron (NASDAQ:MU) dipped 2.8% despite reporting solid quarterly results and upbeat guidance. Analysts suggest the drop reflects concerns over AI-driven valuation spikes in tech stocks.
Accenture earnings preview
Accenture (NYSE:CAN) is one of the pre-market highlights. Analysts expect fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $3.00 on $17.36 billion in revenue, with current-quarter revenue guidance of $18.46 billion, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates.
Focus will likely be on the company’s outlook for AI, as consulting on the technology has become a priority to offset uncertainty from U.S. tariffs. Generative AI bookings totaled roughly $1.5 billion last quarter, while total bookings—a measure of contracted future revenue—stood at $19.70 billion.
CFO Angie Park said in June that slowing government spending would reduce fiscal fourth-quarter and annual revenue by about 2%.
Jabil reports pre-market
Electronics manufacturer Jabil (NYSE:JBL) will also release pre-market results. The Florida-based Apple supplier has risen more than 57% this year, fueled by strong demand for infrastructure services supporting data centers and AI applications.
Jabil earlier announced plans to invest $500 million over the coming years in U.S. operations to support cloud and AI infrastructure clients. Bloomberg estimates project fourth-quarter core EPS of $2.92 and revenue of $7.58 billion.
TikTok deal update
President Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Thursday, confirming that the TikTok U.S. deal being negotiated meets the 2024 law’s requirements, according to Reuters.
The order reportedly extends the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, to divest its U.S. assets or face closure. Trump delayed enforcement to allow time for U.S. investors and ensure compliance. Reports indicate the agreement will give investors—including Susquehanna International, Oracle, and Silver Lake—about 80% ownership of TikTok U.S., while the algorithm will be retrained and the app remains active.
Gold steady amid data anticipation
Gold prices were largely stable, supported by a slightly softer dollar, as investors await further U.S. economic releases. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like bullion, supporting gold’s appeal.
Weekly jobless claims due later Thursday are expected around 230,000, while the second estimate for second-quarter GDP is also due. The Fed’s preferred inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for August, is projected at 0.2% month-on-month.
Spot gold last rose 0.4% to $3,750.99 an ounce by 03:43 ET, after retreating from Tuesday’s all-time high of $3,790.82/oz. December U.S. gold futures gained 0.3% to $3,780.80.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.