U.S. stock futures saw slight gains on Thursday evening following the Christmas holiday, as trading activity remained quiet and volumes are projected to stay low in light of a shortened New Year’s week.
S&P 500 Futures rose by 0.1% to reach 6,987.75 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures also increased by 0.1% to 25,908.0 points as of 20:16 ET (01:16 GMT). Dow Jones Futures experienced a 0.1% uptick, sitting at 49,057.0 points.
U.S. equity markets were closed on Thursday for Christmas Day, following an early closure on Wednesday, which contributed to diminished trading volumes and subdued futures movements.
Due to the light staffing at many institutional desks and several key markets in Europe and Asia being closed for holidays, participants noted that thin liquidity was a factor keeping futures within a narrow range.
Earlier this week, the S&P 500 reached a new record closing high, driven by optimism surrounding strong third-quarter U.S. economic growth that surpassed expectations and bolstered a sentiment of prolonged expansion.
The reported growth in gross domestic product was an annualized 4.3%, the fastest pace in two years, reinforcing the view that the overall economy stays robust.
Furthermore, renewed excitement for technology and AI-related stocks, along with market speculation regarding possible Federal Reserve interest rate reductions in 2026, supported the market’s rise.
As markets get ready to return to regular trading on Friday after the holiday, investors are expected to keep an eye on economic data and year-end positioning, while dealing with traditionally low trading volumes and the possibility of a seasonal “Santa Claus rally” commonly seen in late-December trading.
