The Market Brief
Hey team. U.S. stock index futures advanced further on Thursday following a stronger-than-anticipated increase in monthly retail sales, indicating robust consumer demand in the U.S.
Let’s discuss Wednesday’s session and see what’s next for the markets!
Macro Viewpoint
U.S. stock index futures extended their gains on Thursday after a stronger-than-expected rise in monthly retail sales signaled a healthy consumer base.
Retail sales in September exceeded forecasts with a broad-based increase, highlighting the resilience of consumer spending, which continues to drive economic growth.
Separately, data showed the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits was 241,000 for the week ended Oct. 12, compared with an estimate of 260,000.
The data followed a strong performance on Wall Street, where the Dow closed at an all-time high, buoyed by robust quarterly earnings reports.