Wall Street Gains Momentum Amid Jobs Report as US Equity Futures Edge Higher Pre-Bell

09:07 AM EST, 01/09/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures edged higher ahead of Friday's opening bell as traders digested the crucial monthly jobs report and awaited a potential Supreme Court decision on tariffs that could shape economic outlook.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures, S&P 500 futures, and Nasdaq futures were all up nearly 0.2%.

The Supreme Court could issue a ruling on whether President Donald Trump can invoke national emergency laws to impose sweeping tariffs without Congressional approval, media outlets reported.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.5% at $62.31 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.6% higher at $58.08 per barrel.

The December jobs report, released at 8:30 am ET, showed a 50,000 increase in nonfarm payrolls following a 56,000 rise in the preceding month, compared with estimates compiled by Bloomberg for a larger 70,000 increase. The unemployment rate declined to 4.4% from 4.5% in the prior month, compared with estimates for a no change.

The January Consumer Sentiment index, due at 10 am ET, is seen coming in at 53.5 versus 52.9 previously.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.6% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.3% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.9% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.7%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.4% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Oklo (OKLO) shares were 16% higher pre-bell after the company said it has struck a deal with Meta Platforms (META) to develop a 1.2-gigawatt nuclear power campus in Pike County, Ohio. Revolution Medicines (RVMD) stock was up 14%, a day after the Financial Times reported that the company is in talks to be acquired by Merck (MRK) .

On the losing side, Olin (OLN) stock was down 8%, a day after the company lowered its Q4 guidance range for adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

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