US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Edge Higher amid Fed Easing, Job Jitters

The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Friday, Dec, 12 2025

US stock futures are pointing slightly higher this morning, with benchmark contracts up around 0.1 percent as investors weigh easier central bank policy against signs of a cooling US economy. The Federal Reserve has already cut its main rate by a quarter of a percentage point and plans to buy 40 billion dollars of short term government debt. This should make mortgages, car loans and business borrowing a bit cheaper. At the same time, new jobless claims jumped by 44,000, the biggest weekly rise since early 2020, raising worry about paychecks and spending, especially for retailers and smaller, domestically focused companies.

As layoffs creep higher, investors are quietly rotating into dividend stocks with yields > 3% before the next wave of volatility hits.

Top Movers

• Rocket Lab (RKLB) jumped 10.45 percent after successful qualification of its Neutron Hungry Hippo fairing system.
• Ciena (CIEN) gained 9.25 percent as investors welcomed upbeat revenue guidance for 2026.
• Mobilicom (MOB) climbed 8.38 percent on news of its addition to the Nasdaq Composite Index.

Is Mobilicom still a smart investment or just hype? Read our most popular narrative and get all the answers you need.

Top Losers

• Oracle (ORCL) slid 10.83 percent as investors digested strong earnings alongside profit taking and mixed sentiment.
• Robinhood Markets (HOOD) dropped 9.05 percent after another risk off day pressured retail trading and fintech names.
• Rivian Automotive (RIVN) fell 6.11 percent despite showcasing advanced autonomy and AI technology at its Autonomy and AI Day.

Look past the noise - uncover the top narrative that explains what truly matters for Rivian Automotive's long-term success.

On The Radar

Global growth signals from China and North America will frame how investors interpret the Fed's latest rate cut.

• China Activity Pulse: Monday's Industrial Production, Retail Sales and Investment for November spotlight demand for US multinationals and commodities.
• US Manufacturing Check: Monday's NY Empire State Manufacturing Index for December tests whether factory momentum is fading after softer jobs data.
• North American Inflation: Monday's Canadian CPI for November may shift Bank of Canada easing expectations and influence global rate curves.
• US Housing Sentiment: Monday's NAHB Housing Market Index will show how builders are digesting higher mortgage rates and cheaper funding.

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Find Tomorrow's Top Performers

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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