Stocks Little Changed Amid June Jobs Report

U.S. stock futures were little changed Thursday as traders braced for June’s big jobs report.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials acquired 39 points, or 0.1%, to 44,815.

Futures for the S&P 500 index poked higher 4.25 points, or 0.1%, to 6,279.25

Futures for the NASDAQ jumped 16.75 points, or 0.1%, to 22,859.75.

Economists polled by Dow Jones expect that the economy added 110,000 jobs last month. That compares to May’s gain of 139,000. Economists also see the unemployment rate inching higher to 4.3%, up from 4.2% in May.

If June’s jobs report disappoints, experts say, the market could rotate away from more speculative technology stocks into value names.
Thursday’s report comes a day after ADP released data showing that private payrolls decreased by 33,000 last month.

Investors are also following along the progress on Trump’s tax megabill, which finally passed the Senate Tuesday and has since returned to the House. The bill is now headed for a final vote after the Republican-controlled House advanced the legislation Thursday.

Thursday will be a shortened trading session, with the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq closing at 1 p.m. ET. U.S. markets are closed on Friday for Independence Day.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index notched 0.1% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng faded 0.6%

Oil prices retreated 13 cents to $67.72 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices lost $2.30 to $3,257.40 U.S. an ounce.