Dow futures remained steady on Wednesday as investors awaited key corporate earnings led by Tesla after a record-setting session for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The futures tied to other Wall Street indices remained mixed as S&P 500 futures surged 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures edged down 0.1%.
The muted tone in futures came after some disappointing Q3 earnings like Netflix, which pushed its stock 6% down.
5 things to know before Wall Street opens
1. The US government shutdown hit its 22nd day on Wednesday, making it the second-longest ever, and the ripple effects are starting to spread.
The National Nuclear Security Administration has begun furloughing more than 1,400 employees, which means maintenance at nuclear facilities is now being pushed back.
At the same time, several Head Start preschool programs say they may have to shut down soon because federal funding has stopped.
President Donald Trump has refused to meet with Democratic leaders, saying he won’t negotiate until the government is reopened.
2. The investors seem excited about Tesla’s Q3 earnings numbers, which are all set to be released after the closing bell on Wednesday.
Wall Street is expecting revenue of about $26.3 billion, up 4–5% year-over-year, and earnings per share of around $0.53–$0.55.
The profit of the company is expected to drop by 25-30% despite record deliveries in the quarter as price cuts and weaker margins may weigh in amid tough competition.
Analysts will watch for updates on Tesla’s robotaxi and AI initiatives, which Elon Musk has positioned as future growth drivers.
3. On the tariff front, some positive news is visible as an Indian media report said on Wednesday that the United States may reduce tariffs on India to 15-16% soon.
As per a Mint report, the Indian government has decided to slowly reduce the imports of Russian oil in exchange for tariff relief and expanded access for select Indian exports.
The development can provide a huge boost for investors, who seem worried about the handling capacity of the American economy amid high tariffs.
4. Wall Street premarket trading on Wednesday saw Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) leading gainers, surging 15% after delivering third-quarter earnings that crushed expectations, bolstered by strong demand for its da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system.
On the losing side, Netflix (NFLX) tumbled more than 6% after missing profit and revenue forecasts despite subscriber growth, while Mattel (MAT) dropped approximately 7% on disappointing North American sales.
The mixed premarket action followed the Dow’s record close above 47,000 on Tuesday.
5. Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday as investors stayed cautious after a quiet session on Wall Street.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.017% to 49,307.79, dragged down mostly by weakness in tech names like SoftBank.
South Korea’s Kospi moved in the opposite direction, climbing 1.6% to 3,883.68.
Meanwhile, China’s Shanghai Composite edged down 0.06% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 0.94%.
The uncertainty carried into Europe, where markets opened slightly lower.
Futures for the Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 were down 0.4% and 0.15%, reflecting ongoing worries about geopolitical tensions and slowing growth.
Investors are now waiting for key corporate earnings reports and the latest UK inflation numbers later in the day.
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