Stock Market Today: Futures Flat Ahead of Crucial Jobs Report, Mining Giants Eye Mega-Merger

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are largely flat to slightly lower as investors await the December jobs report and a potential Supreme Court ruling on tariffs [1][2] - Premarket trading shows minimal movement in major U.S. indexes, with S&P 500 E-mini futures unchanged, Nasdaq 100 E-mini futures slightly down, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures near the flatline [2] - Asian markets are mixed, with Japan's Nikkei 225 up 1.6%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index up 0.3%, and China's Shanghai Composite up 0.9% [5] Economic Data and Events - The U.S. December jobs report is set to be released, with expectations for a slight increase in nonfarm payrolls, a dip in the unemployment rate to 4.5%, and a rise in year-on-year wage growth to 3.6% [6] - A potential Supreme Court decision on President Trump's tariffs is anticipated, which could impact various sectors and global trade relations [7] Corporate News - Paramount Skydance Corporation shares rose by 2.69% after reaffirming its $30 per share all-cash offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, claiming superior value compared to Netflix's agreement [3] - Glencore is in preliminary merger talks with Rio Tinto, which could create the world's largest mining company, leading to an 11% surge in Glencore shares [8] - Fast Retailing, parent company of Uniqlo, saw shares jump over 10.6% after reporting a 34% year-on-year increase in quarterly operating profit [9] Earnings Reports - Companies scheduled to report earnings include Tesco PLC, J Sainsbury PLC, Delta Air Lines, and others, with Regions Financial set to release Q4 2025 results on January 16th [10] Industry Developments - Yara International aims for over $600 million in free cash flow expansion by 2030, focusing on low-cost, low-emission ammonia growth [11] - The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 is ongoing, showcasing innovations from major tech companies, which may influence related stock movements [12]