Wall Street Set to Open Higher Thursday as Inflation Rises Less Than Expected; Jobless Claims Decline

09:23 AM EST, 12/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US stocks look set to open higher in Thursday's trading session as investors dissect key inflation and jobless claims figures released earlier in the morning, which came in lower than expected.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are up 0.49%, S&P 500 futures are rising 0.86%, and Nasdaq futures are surging 1.21%.

Oil prices are moving higher, with front-month global benchmarks North Sea Brent crude up 0.2% at $59.91 per barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate crude up 0.3% at $56.12 per barrel.

The US seasonally adjusted consumer price index, a measure of inflation, rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier, below expectations of a 3.1% increase in a survey conducted by Bloomberg.

Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 2.6% year-over-year, also lower than the consensus estimate of a 3.0% increase.

US initial jobless claims fell to 224,000 in the employment survey week ended Dec. 13, after rising to an upwardly revised 237,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a decrease to 225,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei fell 1.03%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.12%, and China's Shanghai Composite was up 0.16 %. Meanwhile in Europe's early afternoon session, the UK's FTSE 100 was off 0.15%, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC were up 0.24% and 0.16% respectively.

In equities, shares of Athira Pharma (ATHA) jumped 76% pre-bell after it said Thursday that it has agreed to acquire the rights for the development and commercialization of lasofoxifene to treat breast cancer.

Sable Offshore (SOC) shares surged 56% after it said Thursday that the US Department of Transportation confirmed that its pipeline system connecting the Santa Ynez Unit to the Pentland Station terminal in California is an "active" pipeline under regulations.

Shares of urban-gro (UGRO) climbed 37%, wiping out Wednesday's 17% loss.

Envirotech Vehicles (EVTV) rose 9% after it reported additional details Thursday regarding a potential merger with artificial intelligence infrastructure company AZIO AI.

And Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) surged 25% after the Truth Social parent and TAE Technologie agreed to merge in an all-stock transaction valued at more than $6 billion.

On the losing side, shares of Mega Fortune Company (MGRT) plunged 53% after soaring 144% on Wednesday.

Pyxis Oncology (PYXS) shares plummeted 47% after it reported Thursday preliminary phase 1 data for Micvotabart Pelidotin in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, adding to a 16% loss the previous session.

Vision Marine Technologies' (VMAR) stock price shed 40%, piling on to a 49% loss the previous session.

Processa Pharmaceuticals (PCSA) shares dropped 35%, partially offsetting its 122% gain on Wednesday.

And shares of Solo Brands (SBDS) tumbled 11%, erasing some of Wednesday's 19% gain.

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