S&P 500 futures experienced an increase on Wednesday night following two consecutive days of gains for major market averages. Futures tied to the broad market index rose by 0.3%, while Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.3%. Conversely, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped by 15 points. In extended trading, International Business Machines faced a decline of over 6% despite posting better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and revenue. Southwest Airlines also fell more than 2% after announcing plans to reduce its schedule in the second half of the year. During regular trading hours, the S&P 500 increased nearly 1.7%, the Nasdaq Composite surged 2.5%, and the Dow added over 400 points. Market optimism was fueled by hopes of easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism about a potential trade deal. Additionally, President Trump stated he has no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, which boosted market sentiment. Investors will focus on quarterly earnings from Alphabet, Intel, and PepsiCo on Thursday.
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