Stocks Down Pre-Bell as Traders Await November Jobs Report

07:28 AM EST, 12/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were tracking in the red on Tuesday as traders await the national employment situation report for November.

The S&P 500 declined 0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.1% and the Nasdaq was off 0.3% in premarket activity. The indexes finished Monday lower, with the Nasdaq extending losses for a third consecutive session.

The nonfarm payrolls report for November is scheduled to be released at 8:30 am ET. Government data is expected to show that the US economy added 50,000 jobs last month, compared with a 119,000 gain reported for September, according to a Bloomberg poll. The Bureau of Labor Statistics canceled October's employment report due to the recent federal government shutdown.

Last week, the Federal Reserve delivered a third consecutive 25-basis-point interest rate cut amid continued concerns about the labor market.

Fed Governor Stephen Miran said Monday that core inflation is likely closer to the central bank's 2% target than what official data suggest. Separately, New York Fed President John Williams said he expects inflation to ease to just under 2.5% next year.

Treasury yields were mixed in premarket action, with the two-year rate increasing 0.2 basis points to 3.51% while the 10-year rate decreased by 0.6 basis points to 4.18%.

Tuesday's economic calendar also has the housing starts and permits data for November and the delayed retail sales report for October, both at 8:30 am. The purchasing managers' index report from S&P Global (SPGI) for December is out at 9:45 am, followed by the delayed business inventories report for September at 10 am.

The US has suspended its technology prosperity deal with the UK, after White House officials became frustrated with the pace of progress in trade talks, according to the Financial Times. President Donald Trump announced the deal, which focused on developing technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum and nuclear, during his state visit to the UK in September.

Shares of Ford Motor (F) inclined 1.3% pre-bell as the automaker said it estimates to record charges of $19.5 billion as it scales back some electric vehicle operations amid lower-than-expected demand, high costs and regulatory changes.

ServiceNow (NOW) rebounded nearly 1% after closing the previous trading session down 12%. The company is facing new headwinds, this time from "some worrying trends" in the information technology back-office employment data amid rising AI adoption, KeyBanc Capital Markets said in a note e-mailed Monday.

Lennar (LEN) and Worthington Enterprises (WOR) are scheduled to release their latest quarterly results after the markets close, among others.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 1.7% to $55.85 a barrel before the opening bell. Gold declined 0.8% to $4,303 per troy ounce, while bitcoin rose 1.4% to $87,038.

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