U.S. stock futures fluctuated near the neutral point on Thursday, as market participants anticipated crucial employment figures that may impact the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy deliberations. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average reduced previous losses, increasing by 23 points, which represents a change of less than 0.1%.S&P 500 futures declined by 0.05%, whereas Nasdaq-100 futures experienced a decrease of approximately 0.4%. The moves follow a session on Wednesday in which the major U.S. averages concluded lower, with the Dow retracting a 423.46-point increase that had propelled it to record highs, ultimately closing just below the flatline. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite slid 0.2% and 0.7%, respectively, as investors pared positions in chipmakers.
The VanEck Semiconductor ETF lost 5.4%, with Micron Technology and Sandisk dropping more than 10% each. Despite the downturn in the chip sector impacting the overall market, Ned Davis Research strategist Rob Anderson views the shift away from semiconductors as a positive development. “One of the characteristics of the bull market has been rotation. The attribute has been on full display in 2026,” he wrote. “A passing of the baton to a non-commodity cyclical sector would be further evidence that the stock market is entering the second half of the year in a position of strength and that the bull market can continue deep into the second half of the year.”
Market participants are anticipating the June jobs report, which is set to be released at 8:30 a.m. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones anticipate that the economy generated 115,000 jobs in the previous month. In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi experienced significant declines, dropping 7.89% to conclude the session at 7,648.09, marking its lowest close since June 8. The small-cap Kosdaq experienced a decline of 6.74%, settling at 866.72. Index heavyweight Samsung experienced a decline of 9.06%, settling at 286,000, while SK Hynix saw a more significant drop of 14.57%, reaching 2,187,000.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 2.47% to 68,733.15, while the Topix inched up 0.09% to 4,014.98. Australia’s benchmark index remained unchanged at 8,724.50. The pan-European Stoxx 600 experienced a 0.6% increase in morning trading, effectively reversing previous losses. Tech stocks experienced a sell-off as traders shifted their focus towards defensive sectors such as utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples.