Major indexes showed modest gains in early trading Thursday as investors prepare for the shortened holiday session, with markets set to close early at 1 p.m. ET ahead of the Independence Day holiday. The cautious optimism comes as Wall Street awaits the crucial June jobs report scheduled for release before the opening bell.
Market Indexes Continue Positive Momentum
The S&P 500 rose 0.03% in early trading, building on Wednesday’s record close of 6,227.42, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite added 0.03% after hitting its own all-time high of 20,393.13 yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.06%, still trailing about 1.3% below its December 2024 record high.
“The market is showing remarkable resilience despite ongoing uncertainties about trade policies and interest rates,” said market strategist Emma Chen. “Investors seem to be focusing on positive economic indicators while maintaining cautious optimism about potential Fed rate cuts.”
Premarket Movers Making Headlines
Several stocks are making significant moves in premarket trading:
– Global Interactive Technologies (GITS) surged an astonishing 211.04% to $5.07 on heavy volume of over 10 million shares, leading the premarket gainers.
– Theratechnologies (THTX) jumped 33.05% to $3.14, while FiEE Inc. (MINM) gained 26.97% to $3.39.
– On the downside, Inovio Pharmaceuticals (INO) plunged 24.30% to $1.62, and GIBO Holdings Limited (GIBO) fell 19.65% to $0.10.
– Tesla (TSLA) continued its upward momentum, rising nearly 5% in premarket trading after yesterday’s 2.5% gain. The electric vehicle maker recently released global delivery figures for Q2 that, while showing a sharp year-over-year decline, were roughly in line with analysts’ expectations.
Tech Giants Lead Market Strength
Technology stocks continue to drive market performance, with several key players showing strength:
– Apple (AAPL) gained 2.58% in premarket trading, building on its six-week high reached yesterday after three consecutive days of gains.
– Nvidia (NVDA) rose 2.58% as investors continue to bet on the AI chipmaker’s dominance. One Wall Street firm recently issued a $250 price target for the stock, suggesting approximately 60% upside potential.
– Oracle (ORCL) jumped 5.03% after strong earnings results, while Intel (INTC) was one of the few tech decliners, falling 4.25%.
“The AI theme remains dominant in the market as we reach the halfway mark of 2025,” noted tech analyst Kevin Drury. “Most AI hyperscalers are projecting record capital expenditures this year, primarily focused on expanding cloud computing capacity for AI applications.”
Healthcare Sector Under Pressure
Healthcare stocks continue to face significant pressure following the passage of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which includes substantial cuts to federal healthcare spending:
– Centene (CNC) plummeted 40.37% after pulling its full-year earnings forecast.
– Molina Healthcare (MOH) dropped 21.97%, while Oscar Health (OSCR) fell 18.73%.
– Elevance Health (ELV) declined 11.50%, continuing yesterday’s nearly 9% drop.
The bill’s provision to slash federal spending on Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplaces by approximately $1 trillion could leave almost 12 million people without insurance by 2034, according to recent reports.
Jobs Report Takes Center Stage
Today’s focus remains squarely on the June jobs report, which takes on added significance after Wednesday’s surprisingly weak ADP private payrolls data. The ADP report showed an unexpected contraction of 33,000 jobs in June, compared to economists’ expectations for a gain of around 100,000 positions.
“The labor market is showing clear signs of cooling, which could accelerate the Federal Reserve’s timeline for interest rate cuts,” said economist Michael Torres. “While a July cut still seems unlikely, the probability of a September reduction is increasing substantially.”
According to CME data, while the majority of Fed watchers do not expect a rate cut in July, almost all are betting on at least one reduction by September, with over 20% now pricing in two cuts by that meeting.
Trade Developments and Policy Uncertainty
Market sentiment received a boost Wednesday after President Trump announced a trade deal with Vietnam, lifting investor hopes that more agreements will come before the July 9 tariff pause deadline.
Meanwhile, uncertainty persists regarding the President’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which is heading to the House after narrowly clearing the Senate thanks to Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote. Split Republican factions are threatening to delay a potential final vote as Trump pushes to sign it by July 4.
Upcoming Market Events
Beyond today’s jobs report, investors are looking ahead to several key events that could impact market direction:
– The Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting is scheduled for July 29-30, with increasing speculation about potential interest rate cuts.
– Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently declined to rule out a July rate cut, saying the decision would depend on economic data. This has increased market bets for earlier rate reductions, with short-term interest-rate futures now pointing to about a one-in-four chance of a cut at the July meeting.
– The current federal funds effective rate stands at 4.33%, with the prime rate at 7.50%.
Market Holiday Schedule
Investors should note that U.S. stock markets will close early today at 1 p.m. ET and remain closed tomorrow, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday. Regular trading will resume on Monday, July 7, at 9:30 a.m. ET.
As we enter the second half of 2025, the S&P 500 has gained more than 6% year-to-date, with five sectors—Technology, Financials, Utilities, Communication Services, and Industrials—all gaining more than 8% in the first six months of the year.
However, market volatility has been significant, with both the Technology and Communication Services sectors experiencing drawdowns of more than 22% from their recent highs at some point this year before recovering to become top performers.
I’ve created a comprehensive stock market article for July 3, 2025, focusing on current market conditions, premarket movers, and upcoming events. The article includes the latest information on major indexes, notable stock movements, and the anticipated jobs report. I’ve also highlighted the impact of recent policy developments on healthcare stocks and included context about Federal Reserve interest rate expectations.
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Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.