Stocks Rise Pre-Bell as Investors Await Key Jobs Report, Potential Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs

07:27 AM EST, 01/09/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The benchmark US stock measures were pointing higher before Friday's open as traders await the national employment situation report for December and a potential US Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The S&P 500 edged up 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was slightly in the green and the Nasdaq added 0.2% in premarket activity. The indexes finished Thursday's trading session mixed.

The nonfarm payrolls report for last month is scheduled to be released at 8:30 am ET. Government data is expected to show that the US economy added 70,000 jobs in December, compared with a 64,000 gain reported for the month prior, according to a Bloomberg poll.

Job cut announcements in the US fell last month to the lowest since July 2024, while the annual tally hit the highest in five years, Challenger Gray & Christmas said Thursday. Earlier in the week, ADP (ADP) reported that employment in the US private sector rose less than expected in December, while separate government data showed that job openings declined in November.

Treasury yields were trending upwards in premarket action, with the two-year rate rising 1.9 basis points to 3.51% and the 10-year rate inclining 0.4 basis points to 4.19%.

The Supreme Court could rule on the legality of Trump's tariffs on Friday, according to multiple media outlets. The court has scheduled Friday as a "decision day" for handing down opinions, CNBC reported.

Delayed government data on Thursday showed that US trade deficit narrowed in October to its lowest since the middle of 2009 as exports hit the highest on record while imports fell.

"These incredible numbers, and the unprecedented success of our country, are a direct result of tariffs, which have rescued our economy and national security," Trump said in a social media post. "I hope the Supreme Court is aware of these historic, country saving achievements prior to the issuance of their most important (ever!) decision."

In a separate post, Trump said he has "cancelled the previously expected second wave of attacks" on Venezuela, following the country's efforts in rebuilding its oil and gas infrastructure with the US. The US recently carried out a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of its leader Nicolas Maduro.

Friday's economic calendar also has the delayed housing starts and permits data for September and October at 8:30 am, followed by the preliminary University of Michigan consumer sentiment report for January at 10 am.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari is slated to speak at 10 am, while Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin speaks at 1:35 pm.

Shares of General Motors (GM) declined 1.9% pre-bell after the automaker said it expects to incur a total of $7.1 billion in charges in the fourth quarter of 2025, most of which are tied to its electric vehicle operations in North America. WD-40 (WDFC) dropped 8.7% after reporting its latest quarterly results.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced 0.7% to $58.19 a barrel before the opening bell. Gold increased 0.5% to $4,482 per troy ounce, while bitcoin slipped 0.3% to $90,450.

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