Stock futures tick higher as traders await delayed January jobs report: Live updates
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on February 9, 2026, in New York City. Stock futures inched higher late Tuesday as traders eagerly anticipated the release of the delayed January jobs report. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.2%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advanced 85 points, or nearly 0.2%.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the January nonfarm payrolls report on Wednesday morning, following a partial government shutdown that ended on February 3. Economists predict little to no growth in January, with the Dow Jones consensus forecasting a gain of 55,000, compared to December's increase of 50,000. The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 4.4%. Additionally, traders will scrutinize revisions from the BLS, which could provide insights into the U.S. jobs market and economy.
Krishna Guha, head of economics and central bank strategy at Evercore ISI, expressed concerns about the labor data's accuracy due to the shutdown's impact and economic uncertainty. He noted a weaker relationship between growth and employment, attributing it to uncertainty and potential secular AI-related effects on the labor market.
A lackluster jobs report would exacerbate negative market sentiment, following weaker-than-expected consumer data released on Tuesday. Consumer spending in December was flat, falling short of the expected 0.4% monthly gain. In regular trading, the S&P 500 slipped 0.3% due to concerns about AI's impact on the financial sector, with tech platform Altruist's AI-powered tax planning tool causing a decline in software stocks.
Despite these fluctuations, the Dow Jones Industrial Average managed to gain 0.1%, setting another all-time high. However, other economic data this week could influence market direction, including the consumer price index, a key inflation gauge, which is expected to be released on Friday.
In after-hours trading, stocks like Robinhood, Lyft, Ford Motor, and Mattel experienced significant moves. Robinhood's revenue fell short of expectations, causing a 7% drop in its stock price. Lyft's bookings met expectations but fell short of adjusted EBITDA forecasts. Moderna shares plummeted over 8% after the FDA declined to review its experimental flu shot application.
As of Tuesday evening, U.S. stock futures remained slightly higher, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures rising 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. The Dow Industrial Average futures gained 78 points, or nearly 0.2%.
