Futures edge higher.
Oil turns back up.
U.S. stock futures were modestly higher before Wednesday’s open after the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Russell 2000 each gained at least 1.7% Tuesday. Private employers added 44,000 jobs in July, and the July ISM Services report is due at 9:00 a.m. Central.
Market setup
Futures pointed to a modestly higher open after Tuesday’s broad advance.
At the morning cutoff, Dow futures were up 0.3%, S&P 500 futures were up 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were up 0.2%. The moves followed Tuesday closes of 7,736.52 for the S&P 500, 26,584.99 for the Nasdaq Composite, and 3,036.98 for the Russell 2000.
Tuesday’s gains were broad: the S&P 500 rose 1.79%, the Nasdaq Composite rose 2.59%, and the Russell 2000 rose 1.85%. Wednesday’s smaller futures moves show a more limited change before the opening bell.
Private employment
ADP reported 44,000 additional private-sector jobs in July.
The July increase was the smallest in six months, according to ADP’s report. The estimate is based on ADP payroll data and is separate from the federal employment report due Friday.
Friday’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics will provide the government’s measures of payroll growth, unemployment, labor-force participation, and wages. The two reports use different data and methods, so their monthly estimates can differ.
Earnings
Disney’s quarter added another company-specific driver before the open.
Disney said its Experiences segment generated $9.97 billion in revenue and $3.02 billion in operating income, up 20% from a year earlier. The company also pointed to the box-office performance of “Toy Story 5.” Disney shares were up about 3.4% in pre-market trading.
AMD reported after Tuesday’s close. Its results keep investor attention on data-center demand and AI infrastructure spending, but any stock reaction should be read separately from the broader index move.
Oil and U.S.–Iran talks
Brent crude moved back above $80 after Tuesday’s 5.3% decline.
Brent was up 1.15% at $80.28 per barrel early Wednesday. The move came as markets followed possible U.S.–Iran talks and the outlook for tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The change does not confirm a lasting shift in supply. A formal agreement and evidence of more regular shipping traffic would provide clearer confirmation than another intraday price move.
Private credit
No new meaningful confirmed private-credit transaction or manager development was identified by the 8:10 a.m. Central cutoff. Ares’s second-quarter direct-lending activity and CVC’s completed Marathon acquisition remain the latest tracked items.
Futures were slightly higher.
Oil was back above $80.
U.S. futures edged higher before Wednesday’s open after all three indexes on the market board gained at least 1.7% Tuesday. ADP reported 44,000 additional private-sector jobs in July, while the government’s July employment report is due Friday. Disney reported higher Experiences revenue and operating income, Brent crude moved back above $80, and the ISM Services Index is the next scheduled release at 9:00 a.m. Central.
Sources: Associated Press morning market report, Associated Press August 4 close, ADP National Employment Report, Disney Investor Relations, U.S. Treasury daily yields, New York Fed SOFR, ISM calendar, Federal Reserve calendar, Treasury auctions, Ares direct-lending activity, CVC Marathon completion.
Research cutoff: August 5, 2026, 9:10 a.m. Eastern (8:10 a.m. Central). For informational purposes only. Nothing here is personalized investment advice. Market prices may change after publication.