5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens

Stock futures are pointing to a higher open Friday after major indexes closed higher yesterday for the first time in three days; the White House is reportedly looking to set up an emergency energy auction that would lead to big tech companies paying for the construction of new power plants; regional bank results are closing out a busy week of earnings reports; shares of J.B. Hunt are lower after the trucking company reported weak revenue; and several Federal Reserve officials are scheduled to speak on Friday. Here’s what you need to know today.

Stock Futures Rise as Market Looks to Finish Mixed Week On a High Note

Stock futures are slightly higher this morning ahead of the long weekend, as markets will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were recently up 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures hovered near unchanged. The major indexes gained on Thursday, snapping a two-day losing streak. Semiconductor stocks led the rally after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) turned in another strong quarter, while banking stocks recovered thanks to solid earnings from Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS). Crude oil futures are on the rise again Friday, up 1.5% at around $60 per barrel. Gold futures were down slightly for the second day in a row, but still trading above $4,600 an ounce and not far from record highs. Bitcoin was little changed at $95,400, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which affects borrowing costs on a wide range of loans, rose to 4.19% from 4.16% at yesterday’s close.

White House Plans Energy Auction For Big Tech to Pay For New Power Plants

Americans who live near data centers may have seen their electricity bills rise in recent months, but the White House wants to change that. The Trump administration is expected to announce plans on Friday for a wholesale energy auction that would see big tech companies pushed to have more of a hand in funding the construction of new power plants to go along with their data centers, according to Bloomberg. The report said that tech companies will likely bid on 15-year contracts for new electricity generation capacity, helping to fund billions in costs for building new power plants. Several tech companies have already partnered with energy companies, mostly nuclear power-based, to provide their data centers with power for years to come.

Regional Bank Results Close Out Busy Week of Earnings Reports

A busy week of bank earnings is wrapping up today with results from several regional banks. Shares of Regions Financial (RF) were down 4% in premarket trading after the bank’s results came in weaker than expected, while State Street (STT) shares fell 2% after the release of its quarterly numbers. Shares of PNC Financial Services (PNC) rose about 3% after it beat estimates and said it plans to increase its level of stock buybacks, while M&T Bank (MTB) shares inched higher. Results from major commercial banks earlier in the week—including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), Citigroup (C) and Bank of America (BAC)—painted a mixed picture. Results yesterday from Morgan Stanley (MS) and Goldman Sachs (GS) topped estimates, as Wall Street trading and dealmaking provided a boost.

JB Hunt Stock Falls as Shipping Company Posts Decline in Revenue

Shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) sank Friday morning, a day after the logistics and shipping company reported a 2% decline in fourth-quarter revenue. The company said the decline was primarily driven by decreases in revenue per load and total number of shipping loads for some of its segments. Profits did manage to beat estimates compiled by Visible Alpha, with earnings per share coming in at $1.90. The trucking company said last year that it had concerns over tariffs affecting shipping demand, and that it was working to cut costs where it could. Shares were down more than 3% before the opening bell on Friday.

Several Fed Officials Scheduled Speak Today

A number of Federal Reserve officials are scheduled to speak today, ahead of a decision later in the month on interest rates and amid concerns about Fed independence. The week opened with news that the Justice Department had subpoenaed the Fed over Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony to Congress regarding the renovation of the Fed building. Powell called the investigation an act of political pressure, indicating it was retaliation for the Fed not lowering interest rates as much as President Trump has wanted. Fed officials and banking executives have said this week that any move to diminish the Fed’s independent role in setting rates would likely end poorly and have a negative impact on the economy. The Fed’s policy committee is set to make its next decision on interest rates on Jan. 28. After cutting the benchmark rate at each of its previous three meetings, market participants expect the Fed to stand pat this month, and some experts believe the central bank may not make any cuts at all in 2026.