U.S. stock index futures held steady on Friday, building off new record highs posted by major benchmarks in the previous session. FedEx shares jumped roughly 5.4% in premarket trading after the parcel carrier posted better-than-expected earnings and revenue, thanks largely to efficient cost management and strong domestic delivery performance. Meanwhile, UPS climbed about 1.6% after withdrawing its bid for the Mexican logistics firm Estafeta, while Intel eased slightly by 0.6% following Nvidia’s announcement of a $5 billion investment.
Small-caps got a boost too: the Russell 2000 hit its highest level since 2021, as markets leaned into expectations for upcoming interest rate cuts. All three big indices were headed for gains for the week. Key gains were largely driven by enthusiasm for AI-related stocks and confidence in the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut of 2025. Investors were also digesting remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who flagged a softening labor market and hinted at more easing ahead.
Notable headwinds were also in view: Lennar slid 2.5% following disappointing third-quarter results and delivery forecasts, while MetLife dropped around 1.2% after being downgraded. On the geopolitical front, markets were eyeing a planned phone call between President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping concerning TikTok, and bracing for volatility tied to “triple-witching” expiration of certain futures and options contracts.
In sum, the U.S. stock market enters the weekend with bullish momentum largely intact. Sentiment is being buoyed by earnings surprises, long-awaited Federal Reserve easing, and strong prospects for further rate cuts. Key sectors like logistics, AI tech, and small-cap stocks are in focus. Keywords such as “U.S. stock futures,” “weekly gains,” “Fed rate cuts 2025,” “FedEx earnings surge,” and “tech AI momentum” reinforce the narrative driving market optimism.
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