Investors Consider Downturn Consequences, Futures Flat



Stock futures were flat Thursday after the S&P 500 declined for a fifth consecutive day and Wall Street evaluated the likelihood of a recession ahead.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials headed higher 73 points, or 0.2%, early Thursday to 33,698.

Futures for the S&P 500 took on 12.25 points, or 0.3%, to 3,949.

Futures for the NASDAQ Composite jumped 37 points, or 0.3%, to 11,548.

Shares of Rent the Runway surged more than 17% in pre-market trading. The online retailer topped revenue expectations in its most recent quarter as shoppers opted to borrow designer clothes amid rising inflation.

Traders expect most recent earnings results from Lululemon Athletica, DocuSign, Broadcom and Costco after the bell Thursday.

In the near term, Wall Street awaits the latest data on weekly jobless claims before the bell on Thursday. Economists polled by Dow Jones are anticipating claims to come in at 230,000, up slightly from the prior week’s total of 225,000.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 declined 0.4% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index moved ahead 3.4%.

Oil prices leaped $1.73 to $73.74 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices slipped $1.10 to $1,796.90 U.S. an ounce.