Investing.com -- U.S. stock futures are little changed Monday at the start of a holiday-shortened week, with investors looking forward to key economic data as a guide to whether the strong gains that marked the first half of the year can continue.
By 06:50 ET (10:50 GMT), the Dow Futures contract was down 15 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 Futures traded 4 points, or 0.1%, higher and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 35 points, or 0.2%.
U.S. stock markets are set to close early at 13:00 ET on Monday for the Independence Day holiday, and they will also be closed on Tuesday.
Optimism after strong first half of the year
There has been a sense of optimism on Wall Street on the back of surprisingly strong U.S. economic data and a growing belief that the world’s largest economy can withstand the aggressive year-long monetary tightening without falling into recession.
This resulted in all three main indices posting gains in the opening six months of 2023. The standout performer was the Nasdaq Composite, which soared to its best first half since 1983 thanks in part to a surge in excitement over developments in artificial intelligence.
Economic data deluge this week
This week sees a number of top-tier economic releases, of which the highlight will be Friday’s U.S. employment report.
The economy is expected to have added 225,000 jobs in June, a slowdown from May’s impressive 339,000 jobs, but still indicating a healthy labor market even if conditions were easing.
Ahead of Friday’s jobs report, markets will get updates on other areas of the labor market with data on private sector hiring from ADP, JOLTS job openings and weekly unemployment claims.
Monday also sees the release of the ISM manufacturing purchasing managers index, which will give the first glimpse into factory activity in June.
Tesla shines with record deliveries
In corporate news, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) announced that deliveries in the second quarter jumped to a record 466,140, in a sign that a decision by the electric carmaker's boss Elon Musk to slash vehicle prices may be boosting demand.
The figure -- which is seen by shareholders as the closest proxy for sales that Tesla makes available -- was 83% higher than the same period last year, and helped Tesla’s shares soar over 6% higher in premarket trade.
Oil gains after Saudi Arabia extends supply cut
Oil prices gained Monday after Saudi Arabia extended its recent supply cut through August, further tightening the market and overshadowing concerns about a global economic slowdown.
Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia said it would extend its voluntary cut of one million barrels per day for another month to include August, the state news agency said on Monday.
By 06:50 ET, U.S. crude futures traded 1% higher at $71.31 a barrel, while the Brent contract climbed 0.9% to $76.07.
Additionally, gold futures fell 0.5% to $1,920.35/oz, while EUR/USD traded 0.2% lower at 1.0892.
(Oliver Gray contributed to this item.)