US stock futures experienced an uptick on Friday as they sought to bounce back from a difficult start to 2025. Markets are anticipating important manufacturing data that could influence future trends.

Futures for both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by about 0.2%, while the Nasdaq 100, which is heavily weighted towards technology, increased by 0.3%. This represents the last chance for the S&P 500 to achieve a “Santa Claus” rally, a historical trend associated with strong returns in January and for the year ahead. However, there is a decline in optimism following a five-session losing streak for the index, the longest since April.

• Projections indicate that both the S&P 500 and Dow are likely to finish the holiday-shortened week down over 1%.
• The Nasdaq is expected to see a nearly 2% drop.

In specific stock developments, Tesla’s shares showed volatility after the company announced record sales in China for 2024. Yet, the stock fell by 6% on Thursday due to its first annual decline in global sales. Additionally, US Steel’s stock plummeted nearly 8% after reports surfaced that President Biden has blocked Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion takeover bid, which encountered considerable political resistance.

Investors are also looking forward to an update on US manufacturing, which may offer insights into the economy’s health and the Federal Reserve’s approach to interest rates.

📎 Related coverage from: yahoo.com