US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Surge as Investors Eye Easing Rate Hike Pressure

The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Thursday, Nov, 20 2025

US stock futures are pointing higher this morning, with contracts linked to the major indexes rising more than 1% before the opening bell. Two stories are grabbing attention. First, the US economy added just 50,000 jobs in September, much less than usual but still showing some hiring. At the same time, average mortgage rates nudged up to 6.37%, and mortgage applications slumped by over 5%, making it harder for people to buy homes or refinance. On one hand, a cooling job market could mean relief from interest rate hikes. However, sticky inflation keeps the Federal Reserve cautious. This puts the spotlight on rate-sensitive stocks, such as banks and real estate companies, because the debate over future interest rates will ripple through these sectors and shape investment returns in the weeks ahead.

With inflation remaining stubborn and rates unpredictable, discover undervalued stocks based on cash flows before the market catches on.

Top Movers

• Block (XYZ) surged 7.56% after the company expanded its share buyback program by $5 billion.
• GE Vernova (GEV) climbed 7.29% following news of a major international wind turbine upgrade deal in Taiwan.
• Constellation Energy (CEG) rose 5.34% as investors reacted to a $1 billion DOE loan for its Crane Clean Energy Center.

Is Block still a smart investment or just hype? Read our most popular narrative and get all the answers you need.

Top Losers

• Eversource Energy (ES) sank 12.45% after regulators blocked its Aquarion unit sale and analysts issued downgrades.
• Strategy (MSTR) declined 9.82%.
• Circle Internet Group (CRCL) slipped 8.98%.

Look past the noise - uncover the top narrative that explains what truly matters for Eversource Energy's long-term success.

On The Radar

A wave of major earnings from tech and retail giants will set the tone for US markets today.

• Walmart (WMT): Q3 earnings Thursday morning will give Wall Street an early read on consumer spending in the face of persistent inflation.
• Intuit (INTU): The Q1 report Thursday after the close spotlights trends in small business software demand and guidance for the critical tax season.
• Veeva Systems (VEEV): Q3 results Thursday evening reveal pharmaceutical cloud adoption trends and the forward outlook.
• Ross Stores (ROST): The discount retailer’s Q3 update Thursday afternoon shows how value-focused shoppers are navigating higher interest rates.
• Copart (CPRT): Q1 numbers Thursday will focus attention on auto salvage volumes and profit margins amid a volatile used car market.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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