Stock futures are higher Wednesday as investors welcome news that the U.S. reached a trade agreement with Japan and prepare for the release of quarterly results from major technology companies.

A trade spokesperson for the European Commission (EC), Olof Gill, noted that “the EU’s primary focus is on achieving a negotiated outcome with the US”, but noted that the EU remains ready to use its anti-coercion instruments (ACI) to fast-track retaliatory tariffs should a trade deal fall through.

The Dow Jones index rose Thursday on surprise jobless claims and retail sales. Nvidia chipmaker TSMC rose on earnings.

US stock futures rose slightly on Friday (July 18) after the S&P 500 closed at a record high in the previous session, with major indexes on pace to end the week in positive territory. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 each ticked up 0.

US Stock market today ended higher as the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all posted modest gains amid upbeat earnings reports and a surprise jump in retail sales. Investors are cautiously optimistic despite political tension as President Trump continues pressuring Fed Chair Jerome Powell over interest rate cuts.

S mall caps and blue chips lagged a generally down market Friday as the Russell 2000 and Dow Jones Industrial Average were responsible for most of the selling. Meanwhile the Nasdaq and S&P 500 tried to limit losses as Nvidia NVDA and Palantir PLTR continued to attract buyers on the stock market today.