S&P 500 Futures Stall After Market Rebounds on Tariff Concession Hopes

S&P 500 futures remained flat early Thursday after Wall Street staged a strong rebound fueled by optimism over potential tariff concessions. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw little movement, while Nasdaq 100 futures dipped slightly by 0.1%.

The stock market has experienced significant volatility this week. On Wednesday, major U.S. indexes bounced back after consecutive losses. The White House announced a one-month delay for tariffs on automakers complying with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, raising hopes that further exemptions could be granted. This optimism lifted all major indexes, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average surging 485.60 points (1.14%), the S&P 500 gaining 1.12%, and the Nasdaq Composite rising 1.46%. Despite the rally, all three remain down over 1% for the week.

Market sentiment has been unsettled following President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, all of which have announced retaliation plans. Investors remain cautious amid broader economic concerns. Mark Hackett, chief market strategist at Nationwide, pointed to "growth challenges, inflationary pressures, and uncertainty in D.C." as key drivers of market weakness.

Traders are now watching economic data closely, with weekly jobless claims set for release Thursday and February’s payroll report due Friday, both of which could impact market direction. Additionally, major earnings reports from Macy’s, Broadcom, Costco Wholesale, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are expected to draw investor attention.