Stock futures pared losses and steadied Thursday, after U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to target China telecommunications group Huawei with an emergency declaration against threats to U.S. technology — further flaring trade tensions.
How are major indexes faring?
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures YMM9, +0.00% was flat at 25,674, while S&P 500 futures ESM9, +0.03% rose 1 point to 2,855,75. Nasdaq-100 futures NQM9, -0.05% were down 1.75 points to 7,529.50.
On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.45% rose 115.97 points, or 0.5%, to 25,648.02 and the S&P 500 index SPX, +0.58% 0.6% to 2,850.96. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +1.13% outperformed its peers 1.1%, to 7,822.15.
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What drove the market?
The Trump administration appeared to fire a fresh salvo in a trade spat with China late Wednesday, issuing an executive order that bans telecom equipment from countries considered “foreign adversaries”. The move seemed all but targeted at Huawei, which has been under pressure from the White House for months. The Commerce Department will have 150 days to figure out regulations.
It comes against the backdrop of trade tensions between the U.S. and China that have triggered volatility across global equity markets. Huawei responded to CNBC that such a move will only put the U.S. behind when it comes to 5G development, given the Chinese tech giant is the “unparalleled leader” in the field, it said.
The executive order comes a day after markets received a lift from reports that Trump would delay a decision on instituting new tariffs on car and auto part imports for up to six months. Hours earlier, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the U.S. would “most likely” meet with Chinese delegates again in Beijing after each side fired off trade tariffs at the other.
Some budding optimism over trade relations between the two countries has offered some reprieve to investors this week, with the S&P 500 now higher for two-straight sessions after last week’s sharp losses.
Read: Can the stock market hold out long enough for Trump to win a trade war?
Away from geopolitical developments, Thursday’s economic calendar includes weekly jobless claims, housing starts and building permits for April, along with a Philly Fed manufacturing index for May — all due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
How are other markets trading?
Asian markets had a mixed session, with a 1.2% drop for Korea’s Kospi SEU, -1.20% and a 0.6% gain for the Shanghai Composite SHCOMP, +0.58% In Europe, stocks hinted at opening losses.
Crude oil CLM9, +0.64% prices advanced, while gold GCM9, -0.16% and the U.S. dollar were softer.
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