Dow futures were steady near record highs on Thursday, as investors welcomed the end of the US government shutdown and a fresh boost of optimism.
Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up about 17 points, showing a cautiously upbeat mood after the index broke above 48,000 for the first time just a day earlier.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures slipped a bit, but the Dow kept its strength thanks to solid gains in financial and healthcare stocks, which helped balance out some softness in tech and AI-related names.
Traders are now watching the next round of economic data and assessing how the shutdown’s resolution might shape market momentum going forward.
5 things to know before Wall Street opens
1. US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed the bill to end the record 43-day government shutdown.
It came after the US House of Representatives voted 222-209 to pass a funding bill, with six Democrats breaking the ranks to join Republicans in supporting the measure.
The shutdown had caused major disruptions, including canceled flights and withheld federal services.
The funding deal leaves out an extension of the expanded ACA tax credits, which many Democrats had been pushing for.
Still, the end of the shutdown came as a big relief for both everyday Americans and the markets.
2. The investors are now waiting anxiously for a flood of delayed economic data.
Key reports on jobs, inflation, and retail spending were all pushed back, and they’re essential for understanding how the economy is really doing, and for helping the Federal Reserve decide whether to cut interest rates in December.
Because of the backlog, some of these reports might be released all at once or in quick succession, which adds another layer of uncertainty.
Traders and analysts are watching closely to see what the numbers reveal about the true impact of the shutdown and how they might influence the Fed’s next moves.
3. Tencent posted a strong set of results for Q3 2025, with revenue climbing 15% to 192.9 billion yuan (about $27.12 billion), easily beating analyst expectations.
The boost came largely from its gaming business and continued heavy investments in AI.
CEO Ma Huateng said that both AI and gaming were key drivers behind the company’s double-digit growth in revenue and profit, helping Tencent stay competitive in a crowded tech market.
The company is leaning even more into AI to grow its market share and roll out new innovations, putting it in a solid position as the industry keeps evolving.
4. US Treasury yields remained mixed on Thursday as investors welcomed the end of the government shutdown.
The 10-year Treasury yield slightly dipped after earlier rises, reflecting cautious optimism about resumed government operations and upcoming economic data.
The end of the government shutdown is helping with the market uncertainties and prompting modest shifts within fixed income markets.
As the risk sentiment improved, bonds witnessed some price gains, but although yields remain sensitive to inflation and Federal Reserve policy outlooks.
5. Global markets were a mixed bag on Thursday.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched up 0.4%, and the Topix did even better, rising 0.62% to hit fresh record highs.
Over in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng rose 0.56%, while China’s CSI 300 climbed 1.21%, South Korea’s Kospi was mostly unchanged, and India’s Nifty 50 ended the day about 0.1% higher.
Across Europe, the mood was similarly steady. The Stoxx 600 was up about 0.3% in early trading, with most sectors in the green.
Germany’s DAX and the UK’s FTSE also posted gains, supported by calm, steady sentiment in the markets.
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