US stock market futures today jump as shutdown ends: Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures rising — here’s top gainers and losers
U.S. stock futures moved higher early Thursday as traders processed the end of the nation’s longest government shutdown. The 43-day closure created uncertainty across federal agencies, pushed back economic reports, and weighed on investor sentiment. But the new bill signed by President Trump late Wednesday helped steady the markets.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) rose 0.2%. S&P 500 (ES=F) futures added 0.2%. Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) futures gained 0.3%.
The Mini Dow Jones Industrial Average December 2025 contract traded at 48,391, up 23 points (+0.05%) at 4:20 AM EST. The moves signaled a more stable start after days of political tension. Still, futures only hint at the trading mood and do not guarantee direction once markets open.
The House passed the shutdown-ending bill in a 222–209 vote. The Congressional Budget Office now estimates the U.S. economy may lose about $11 billion by the end of 2026 due to lost work output and delayed government operations.
A bigger worry stems from data disruptions. The White House warned that key releases—such as the Consumer Price Index and the October jobs report—may be “permanently impaired” due to the extended shutdown. Investors expect choppy data in the weeks ahead.
Top sectors leading gains included technology, with AI-related stocks like Nvidia seeing strong rebounds. Notable gainers among Dow components recently included Merck, Amgen, Nike, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, Walt Disney, Honeywell, Apple, and Goldman Sachs, with increases ranging from about 2% to near 5% on individual stock levels. Some stocks experienced declines like Energy Transfer LP and Philip Morris International.This market rally was also supported by investor relief on the shutdown resolution and cooling concerns over an AI-related stock sell-off earlier. On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) closed above 48,000 for the first time in history. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) inched higher. The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) slipped as tech stocks faced rotation into defensive sectors.
Traders now await earnings from Disney (DIS) before Thursday’s opening bell.
How did Cisco stock jump after upgrading its 2026 forecast?
Shares of Cisco Systems (CSCO) rallied sharply in after-hours trading after the company raised its fiscal 2026 outlook. Cisco now expects up to $61 billion in revenue for the year ending July—around $1 billion above its earlier estimate and stronger than Wall Street projections. The company also lifted its earnings forecast.
The jump is tied to booming demand for AI infrastructure. Cisco has been rolling out upgraded chips and networking gear to support modern AI workloads and heavy data center traffic.
The stock had already gained 25% this year. After the new forecast, shares climbed about 8% in late trading. Pre-market pricing showed Cisco at $78.69, up 6.40% from the previous close.
What are European markets signaling this morning?
European stocks showed calm strength in early trading. The Stoxx Europe 600 edged up 0.2%.
Strong performers included ALK-Abello Series B (+11.3%) and Zealand Pharma (+7.1%), while 3i Group (-10.4%) and Azimut Holding (-8.6%) posted steep losses.
The FTSE 100 slipped 0.3%. France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.6%. Germany’s DAX rose 0.1%.
The Wall Street Journal Dollar Index fell 0.2% to 96.68, signaling a mild pullback in the dollar as stability improved globally.
What are commodities and bond markets telling investors?
Oil prices drifted lower. Brent crude fell 0.2% to $62.57 a barrel. WTI crude declined 0.2% to $58.35. Europe’s natural gas benchmark TTF eased 0.2% to €30.88 per MWh.
Bond yields moved slightly higher as investors shifted toward stocks.
Germany’s 10-year Bund rose to 2.652%.
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield increased to 4.087% from 4.075%. Higher yields imply lower bond prices and improved risk appetite.
How did Asian stocks trade?
Asian markets posted solid gains as global sentiment improved.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.4%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.6%.
China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.7%.
Investors in the region followed Wall Street’s steady performance and welcomed the U.S. shutdown resolution.
What will shape the market narrative today?
Wall Street will closely watch:
• The return of delayed economic data
• The quality of reports affected by the shutdown
• Corporate earnings, especially Disney
• Cisco’s AI-driven momentum
• Rate-cut expectations heading into 2026
The political uncertainty is gone. But the economic impact will continue to unfold. Traders are preparing for uneven data, cautious optimism, and renewed questions about early-2026 monetary policy.