US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Inch Higher as Factory Slowdown Persists

US stock futures are pointing slightly higher ahead of the opening bell, as investors weigh two main forces shaping the market. On one hand, the cost to borrow money, measured by the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note, is staying near 4.1%. This number is important because when these yields go up, it makes loans more expensive for households and businesses, putting pressure on growth. On the other hand, new data shows US factories are still pulling back, with November’s main manufacturing scorecard landing at 48.2. A number below 50 means factories have been shrinking for nine straight months. So the big question for investors is whether today’s steady rates and lingering manufacturing slowdown will keep hurting companies that rely on economic growth, like industrials and banks, or if interest-rate-sensitive sectors such as technology get relief from an eventual cut by the Federal Reserve.

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Nebius Group (NBIS) jumped 5.57% with no major developments reported.

CoreWeave (CRWV) climbed 5.39% without notable news catalysts.

Synopsys (SNPS) rose 4.85% after NVIDIA announced a $2B investment and an expanded partnership with Synopsys.

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Bloom Energy (BE) dropped 9.44%.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) declined 6.39%.

W. R. Berkley (WRB) slipped 6.06%.

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Tech sector earnings and key software updates headline a busy stretch for US market watchers through Thursday.

Salesforce (CRM) Q3 results after market close on Tuesday could set the tone for enterprise software demand as fiscal 2026 ramps up.

Snowflake (SNOW) and Pure Storage (PSTG) both report earnings after the bell on Tuesday. These reports offer an inside look at cloud infrastructure and data spending trends.

Dollar Tree (DLTR) releases Q3 results pre-market on Wednesday. This provides clues about discount retail resilience as consumers battle inflation.

Dollar General (DG) earnings on Thursday could move the needle for budget retail as the company addresses recent margin pressure and guidance risks.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) announces results Thursday afternoon. The update gives insight into beauty sector momentum through the start of the holiday shopping season.

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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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