S&P 500 Futures Climb As Traders Weigh Jobs And Inflation

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The Morning Bull – US Market Morning Update Friday, May, 8 2026

US stock futures are pointing higher this morning, with E-mini S&P 500 contracts up about 0.4% and Nasdaq-100 futures up roughly 0.6%, as investors focus on a key mix of jobs and inflation signals. The April non-farm payrolls report is expected to show 62,000 new jobs, unemployment at 4.3% and paychecks rising 0.3% month on month, which hints at an economy that is cooling but still holding up. At the same time, global food prices are 1.6% higher on the year’s FAO Food Price Index and Brent crude is above US$100, raising questions about whether everyday costs will stay under pressure. The dilemma for investors now is whether a still firm job market plus higher food and energy costs keep interest rates elevated for longer, which would keep rate sensitive areas such as real estate and utilities under strain, while putting fresh attention on growth sectors that can absorb higher costs and still grow earnings.

If you are worried that sticky food and energy costs keep rates higher for longer, focus on 72 resilient stocks with low risk scores.

Top Movers

Is Datadog still a smart investment or just hype? Read our most popular narrative and get all the answers you need.

DDOG 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Top Losers

  • Insmed (INSM) dropped 23.55% after Q1 results showed another quarterly loss and analysts flagged the pullback.

  • Zoetis (ZTS) fell 21.50% after Q1 earnings and commentary that the quarter was worse than it seems.

  • Futu Holdings (FUTU) declined 13.76%.

Look past the noise – uncover the top narrative that explains what truly matters for Futu Holdings’ long-term success.

INSM 1-Year Stock Price Chart
INSM 1-Year Stock Price Chart

On The Radar

Global inflation signals and US housing data will share the spotlight with a few targeted stock specific catalysts.

  • US Housing: April Existing Home Sales on Monday will help you gauge how mortgage rates meet buyer demand.

  • China Prices: Monday’s April China CPI and PPI readings frame input costs and demand in a key US trading partner.

  • Central Banks: The ECB Cipollone speech on Sunday may offer insight into how Europe is approaching persistent inflation.

  • Bank of Canada: Monday’s BoC Market Participants Survey provides a snapshot of rate expectations in another major economy.

  • Utilities Earnings: Friday’s Q1 update from PPL (PPL) outlines how a regulated utility is handling costs and cash flows.

Use our Portfolio or Watchlist features to track market-moving events like these and get alerts for the companies you own, free!

Find Stocks Poised To Move

Our analysis just surfaced the solid balance sheet and fundamentals stocks screener (44 results), delivering clear insight into companies built on robust finances so you can focus on stocks that look prepared and resilient when conditions shift.

Ready to take control of your next move? Our stock screener lets you run custom searches that fit your style and set up timely alerts so you never miss fresh opportunities.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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