Stock futures increased on Thursday evening as traders looked past U.S. trade policy concerns that have unsettled the market this week, anticipating a significant payrolls report due Friday morning. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 96 points, or 0.2%. S&P 500 futures gained nearly 0.4%, while Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 0.5%. This followed a volatile session on Thursday, with major averages back in sell-off mode as the latest tariff policy concessions from President Donald Trump failed to reassure investors. The Dow lost over 400 points, and the Nasdaq Composite fell into correction territory, ending more than 10% off its high. Stocks have been volatile due to concerns over Trump’s tariff policies affecting future U.S. growth. Although Trump exempted certain goods from Canada and Mexico until April 2, it wasn’t enough to spur a recovery rally. Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group, noted the difficulty in pricing tariff impacts amid shifting policies. This market downturn placed the three major averages on track for their worst week since September 2024, with the S&P 500 down 3.6%, the Dow down 2.9%, and the Nasdaq down 4.1% week to date. — news from CNBC
