After moving notably lower over the past few sessions, stocks could see some further downside in early trading on Thursday. The major index futures are currently pointing to a modestly lower open for the markets, with the Dow futures down by 25 points.
Lingering concerns about the outlook for the Federal Reserve's stimulus program may continue to weigh on the markets as traders digest the latest batch of economic data.
The Commerce Department recently released a report showing that retail sales rose by slightly more than expected in the month of May, with auto sales showing a notable increase.
The report said retail sales increased by 0.6 percent in May after edging up by 0.1 percent in April. The sales growth came in just above economist estimates for a 0.5 percent increase.
Excluding a 1.8 percent jump in sales by motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales increased by a more modest 0.3 percent in May compared to expectations for 0.4 percent growth.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department released a report showing an unexpected decrease in first-time claims for unemployment benefits in the week ended June 8th.
The Labor Department said initial jobless claims fell to 334,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 346,000. The modest decrease came as a surprise to economists, who had been expecting initial jobless claims to edge up to 350,000.
While the data generally offers upbeat signs for the economic outlook, the reports may add to concerns that the Fed will scale back its asset purchase program in the near future.
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Market Analysis
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.