Outlook 02/12: Stock futures moved slight higher on Thursday, a day after a solid jobs report drew mixed emotions and traders took in more earnings news from big companies. Jobs report was a relief for investors who worried it would show a drop-off in the labor market, following a raft of recent data that’s indicated slowing growth in a “no hire, no fire” environment. The strong payrolls numbers also muddy the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook, and could mean fewer rate cuts than traders were hoping for if higher inflation also remains an issue. That underscores the importance of Friday’s consumer price index, which could show the central bank just what is needed for its dual mandate to come into better balance. Now market expectations are on Friday’s CPI report, because if that comes in tame, at least the market can understand that the inflation part of the Fed’s equation is cooling.
ESH26 (Mar2026): YVAH 6980 YPOC 6966 YVAL 6952 GAP 6962
/ES Plan: Yesterday market closed balanced, but overnight looks bullish (PBT 7011) moving above previous value, so these're the opening and initial balance options for current session:
