Wall Street Targets To Open Positive

(RTTNews) - U.S. economic announcements and Fed speeches might be the focus on Thursday.

Asian shares finished mostly up, while European shares are trading mixed.

Early signs from the U.S. Futures Index suggest that Wall Street might open positive.

As of 8.16 am ET, the Dow futures were gaining 75.00 points, the S&P 500 futures were up 20.75 points and the Nasdaq 100 futures were adding 116.25 points.

The U.S. major averages finished broadly up on Wednesday. The Dow edged down 17.15 points or less than a tenth of a percent to 46,253.31, but the S&P 500 rose 26.75 points or 0.4 percent to 6,671.06 and the Nasdaq climbed 148.38 points or 0.7 percent to 22,679.08.

On the economic front, the Jobless Claims for the week will be issued at 8.30 am ET. The consensus for initial claims is 229K.

The PPI-Final Demand for September will be released at 8.30 am ET. The consensus for PPI-FD is up 0.3 percent, while it was down 0.1 percent in the prior month.

The Commerce Department's Retail Sales for September is scheduled at 8.30 am ET. The consensus is for an increase of 0.4 percent, while it was up 0.6 percent in August.

The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index for October will be revealed at 8.30 am ET. The consensus is 7.5, while it was up 23.2 in the prior month.

The Commerce Department's Business Inventories for August will be published at 10.00 am ET. The consensus is for an increase of 0.2 percent, while it was up 0.2 percent in the prior month.

The Housing Market Index for October will b released at 10.00 am ET. The consensus is 33, while the index was up 32.

The 5-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities or TIPS announcement is expected at 11.00 am ET.

The Energy Information Administration or EIA's Petroleum Status Report for the week will be issued at 12.00 pm ET. In the prior week, the crude oil inventories were up 3.7 million barrels and gasoline inventories were down 1.6 million barrels.

Fed Governor Michael Barr will speak on 'Stablecoins' before 2025 DC Fintech Week event at 9.00 am ET.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller will speak on the economic outlook before the Council on Foreign Relations' C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics at 9.00 am ET.

Fed Governor Stephen Miran will participate in conversation before the 2025 Institute of International Finance Annual Membership Meeting at 9.00 am ET.

Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman will speak virtually before the 2025 Federal Reserve Stress Testing Research Conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston at 10.00 am ET.

Richmond Fed Bank President Thomas Barkin will speak on 'Staying Sanguine About the Horizon' before the Richmond Association for Business Economics at 4.30 pm ET.

Fed Governor Stephen Miran will participate in conversation before the Semafor Fall 2025 World Economy Summit at 4.30 pm ET.

Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin will speak on 'Staying Sanguine About the Horizon' before the Richmond Risk Management Association at 4.30 pm ET.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari will participate in a town hall hosted by Elevate Rapid City 6.00 pm ET.

Asian stocks rose on Thursday. China's Shanghai Composite index ended 0.1 percent higher at 3,916.23. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended marginally lower at 25,888.51.

Japanese markets ended sharply higher. The Nikkei average rose 1.27 percent to 48,277. 74 while the broader Topix index closed up 0.62 percent at 3,203.42.

Australian markets hit a record closing high. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.86 percent to 9,068.40. The broader All Ordinaries index settled 0.83 percent higher at 9,375.90.

In the Asian trading session, the dollar was under pressure. Gold extended its record run to trade above $4,230 an ounce. Oil prices rose more than 1 percent.