Stock Futures Little Changed as Traders Enter December

Stock futures in the U.S. were relatively calm Sunday night as traders braced for the start of December — historically one of the stronger months for markets. At about 6 p.m. Eastern, futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 — two of America’s benchmark indexes — each dipped roughly 0.1%. Meanwhile, futures for the Nasdaq Composite were essentially flat. The relatively muted activity comes as investors prepare for a packed week of economic data, delayed because of a recent government shutdown. Key reports expected this week include export/import price indexes, November employment figures, and consumer‑sentiment data. On the commodities front, crude‑oil prices ticked up: futures for the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate rose about 1.6%, reaching roughly $59 per barrel, after the OPEC+ group confirmed it will pause production hikes in early 2026 amid concerns over oversupply and weaker demand. Still, last week was a strong one for equity markets. Both the Dow and S&P 500 posted solid gains, with the Dow up 3.2% and the S&P 500 climbing 3.7% — pushing their year‑to‑date returns to roughly +12.2% and +16.4%, respectively. The Nasdaq rebounded 4.9% for the week, though it ended November down about 1.5%, breaking a seven‑month winning streak. With fresh data and earnings reports on the horizon, many investors remain optimistic that December might deliver a strong finish to what’s already been a volatile — yet profitable — year. #StockFutures #USMarkets #DecemberOutlook #OilMarkets #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM