#stock-futures

#stock-futures

Thanks to strong earnings reports, investors are still shrugging off trade war fears and the fact that the U.S. government is now in its third week of a shutdown. Futures are up across the board, with Dow futures up 182 points. The Nasdaq is up about 141, as the S&P 500 tacks on about 27 points. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ( NYSEMKT: VOO) is also showing big signs of life thanks to impressive earnings.

Despite mounting concerns over a weakening labour market and tariff-related costs, investors have embraced what is described on Wall Street Journal as a "run it hot" trade, betting that rate cuts and tax stimulus will generate a new wave of economic growth and corporate earnings. This optimism has pushed benchmarks, speculative tech names, meme stocks, and even alternative assets like gold to fresh highs.