US stock futures today: Dow futures surge on UnitedHealth boost, S&P ticks higher; Nasdaq slides after Applied Materials chip warning
U.S. stock futures edge higher as Dow leads on health-care surge, tech lags behind- U.S. stock futures were mixed early Friday, signaling a cautious but upward-tilted open for Wall Street after a week that tested investor nerves with hotter-than-expected inflation data and a flurry of corporate earnings surprises.
By 8:45 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up +0.66% (≈+297 points) at 45,294, led by strong pre-market gains in health-care stocks, particularly UnitedHealth, which surged after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a sizable new stake.
The morning’s moves reflect a market in rotation: investors are shifting toward defensive plays like health care and industrials while easing out of overextended tech positions. With consumer sentiment data due later in the morning, traders are bracing for fresh clues on whether the day’s cautious optimism will...