Futures Mixed as Tech Stocks Still Weak, Banks Rally

U.S. stock index futures were mixed on Thursday, with economy-linked banking and energy shares leading gains, while interest rate-sensitive growth names remained under pressure from the Federal Reserve’s hawkish signals.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq plunged more than three percent on Wednesday, its biggest one-day percentage drop since February, while the Dow slipped from an intra-day record high after minutes from the Fed’s December meeting signaled the possibility of sooner-than-expected rate hikes and stimulus withdrawal to curb inflation.

So far this week, market participants have rotated out of technology-heavy growth shares into value-oriented and cyclical names such as industrials, energy and materials that stand to benefit the most in a high interest rate environment.

The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield, the benchmark for global borrowing costs, touched its highest level since April 2021.

Shares of major Wall Street lenders were up nearly one percent each in premarket trading. Occidental Petroleum added 1.9 percent, leading gains among oil companies.

The S&P 500 energy sector has gained 6.6 percent so far this week, tracking its best weekly performance since late August.

At 6:52 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were up 66 points, or 0.18 percent and S&P 500 e-minis were down 2.25 points, or 0.05 percent.

Nasdaq 100 e-minis fell 77.25 points, or 0.49 percent, dragged down by shares of Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com, Apple Inc and Tesla Inc which fell between 0.6 percent and 1.6 percent.

After a stronger-than-expected ADP private payrolls report on Wednesday, all eyes are on the Labor Department’s more comprehensive and closely watched nonfarm payrolls data for December on Friday.

“With the jobs report around the corner, the atmosphere across the board could become tense and nervy as investors adopt a cautious stance,” said Lukman Otunuga, senior research analyst at FXTM.

“Should the jobs report exceed market expectations, this is likely to boost confidence in the US economy and reinforce expectations that the Fed will raise interest rates in the Spring.”

Readings on initial jobless claims data and ISM non-manufacturing activity are also due later in the day.

Netflix Inc slipped 1.2 percent after J.P. Morgan cut its price target on the movie streaming platform’s stock.

(Reuters)