Stock Index Futures Slip as Trump Picks Warsh for Fed Chair

Economic Indicators - The number of Americans filing for initial jobless claims fell by 1,000 to 209,000, compared to the expected 206,000 [1] - U.S. Q3 nonfarm productivity was reported at +4.9% quarter-over-quarter, while unit labor costs remained unchanged at -1.9% quarter-over-quarter, both in line with expectations [1] - The U.S. trade deficit for November widened to -$56.8 billion, worse than the expected -$43.4 billion [1] - Factory orders in the U.S. rose by +2.7% month-over-month in November, exceeding expectations of +1.7% [1] Stock Market Performance - Wall Street's major indices closed mixed, with Microsoft (MSFT) dropping about -10% due to record high spending and slowing cloud sales growth [2] - Las Vegas Sands (LVS) fell over -13% after reporting weaker-than-expected Q4 Macau profit [2] - United Rentals (URI) slumped over -12% following disappointing Q4 results [2] - Conversely, Meta Platforms (META) surged over +10% after posting strong Q4 results and issuing optimistic Q1 revenue guidance [2] Corporate News - Notable companies such as Exxon Mobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), and American Express (AXP) are set to release quarterly results today, with S&P 500 companies expected to see an average earnings increase of +8.4% for Q4 compared to the previous year [8] - Casio Computer's stock surged over +16% after announcing a potential doubling of its full-year net profit [15] - Fujitsu's stock climbed over +5% after raising its full-year net profit guidance [15] International Economic Data - The Eurozone economy expanded by +1.5% last year, marking its fastest growth since 2022, with preliminary data showing a Q4 GDP growth of +0.3% quarter-over-quarter and +1.3% year-over-year [10][12] - Spain's annual inflation rate eased to a 7-month low in January, while the Eurozone's unemployment rate fell to 6.2%, better than expected [10][11]