US stock futures today: Dow futures surge on UnitedHealth boost, S&P ticks higher; Nasdaq slides after Applied Materials chip warning
U.S. stock futures were mixed early Friday, signaling a cautious but upward-tilted open for Wall Street after a week that tested investor nerves with hotter-than-expected inflation data and a flurry of corporate earnings surprises.
By 8:45 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up +0.66% (≈+297 points) at 45,294, led by strong pre-market gains in health-care stocks, particularly UnitedHealth, which surged after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a sizable new stake.
The morning's moves reflect a market in rotation: investors are shifting toward defensive plays like health care and industrials while easing out of overextended tech positions. With consumer sentiment data due later in the morning, traders are bracing for fresh clues on whether the day's cautious optimism will hold through the closing bell.
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Why the Dow is outperforming this morning
The biggest driver for the blue-chip index is
UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
, which is surging more than
11% in pre-market trading
. The spike follows news that
Berkshire Hathaway
disclosed a fresh stake in the insurer late Thursday, a move reminiscent of Buffett's historic bets on entrenched, recession-resilient businesses.
Health-care stocks, often seen as defensive plays in uncertain rate environments, are also benefiting from analyst upgrades. According to
Goldman Sachs
, health insurers could see 'margin tailwinds' if wage growth continues to cool while premium revenues rise — a dynamic that could extend into early 2026.
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Dow Jones Futures
: Up about
0.66%
, hovering near
45,295
. A solid gain that shows continued strength in blue-chip sectors like health care.
S&P 500 Futures
: Gaining roughly
0.15%
, trading in the
6,500
range. Modest upward momentum reflects tentative optimism amid mixed economic signals.
Nasdaq-100 Futures
: Slight decline of
0.07%
, resting just under
23,915
. Weakness driven largely by softness in chip-related sectors.
Tech sentiment cools after chipmaker warning
While the Dow's health-care heavyweights are lifting sentiment, the
Nasdaq
is being held back by
Applied Materials (AMAT)
, down roughly
14% pre-market
. The chip equipment giant cited 'softness in advanced memory demand from China' in its fiscal Q4 guidance, trimming revenue forecasts by nearly
$900 million
versus Wall Street expectations.
For traders who recall the
2022–2023 semiconductor glut
, the warning is a reminder that despite AI-related optimism, supply-chain imbalances and regional demand slowdowns can still disrupt growth trajectories.
Sandisk
is also down about
10%
after reporting a quarterly loss, adding to the drag on tech futures.
The rate cut debate:
Yesterday's
Producer Price Index (PPI)
came in hot at
+0.9% month-on-month in July
— far above the expected
+0.2%
— unsettling some traders who had been betting on a
50 basis point
cut from the
Federal Reserve
in September.
CME FedWatch data now shows markets pricing in a
78% probability
of a smaller
25 basis point cut
, with a full half-point cut odds falling below 15%. As one senior bond trader at
Citi
put it this morning:
'The Fed's still on track to ease, but the data is telling them to do it slowly. A hotter inflation print this late in the game is like stepping on a garden hose — the water pressure builds, and you have to control the release.'
Global cues shaping U.S. pre-market mood
Asian markets closed mixed, with the
Nikkei 225
up
0.6%
but
Shanghai Composite
down
0.4%
, mirroring investor caution after weak Chinese credit growth data. In Europe, the
DAX
and
FTSE 100
posted modest gains, suggesting global investors are cautiously leaning risk-on despite inflation jitters.
Currency markets are also adding a layer of complexity: the
U.S. dollar index
is holding above
103.7
, which could weigh on multinational exporters once Wall Street opens.
US Stock Future Top Stock Today
UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
is the standout performer—trading up roughly
11% pre-market
, lifted by Berkshire Hathaway's fresh $1.6 billion stake and sparking strength across health-care sectors.
Nucor (NUE)
is also in rally mode, rising around
5–6%
, reflecting bullish sentiment after Berkshire added to its holdings in the steelmaker.
On the downside,
Applied Materials (AMAT)
is leading the skids—dropping nearly
14%
after issuing weaker-than-expected revenue guidance, with fears of sluggish chip demand in China dragging peers lower.
What this means for traders and investors today
For short-term traders, the divergence between Dow and Nasdaq futures offers tactical opportunities — rotational plays into health care and industrials could outperform if tech remains under pressure.
For
long-term investors
, the morning's moves underscore two themes:
Sector leadership is rotating
— defensive, cash-rich companies are taking the baton from overextended tech leaders.
Macro data still trumps narratives
— one surprise inflation reading can recalibrate rate expectations in a single day.
As the session unfolds, watch for
10:00 a.m. ET U.S. consumer sentiment data
and any additional Fed commentary, both of which could amplify or reverse pre-market trends.
Snapshot: August 15, 2025 — U.S. futures at a glance
Index
Futures Value
Change
Primary Driver
Dow Jones
45,294
+0.66%
UnitedHealth rally, health-care strength
S&P 500
6,500.25
+0.15%
Mixed sector performance
Nasdaq-100
23,914.75
−0.07%
Semiconductor weakness
Bottom line:
The Dow is on track for an outsized gain thanks to health-care momentum, but the Nasdaq's slump reminds us that rate cuts, inflation, and sector-specific shocks can keep markets choppy. In other words, today might reward nimble investors — but it will test those who ignore macro signals.
FAQs:
Q1. What is driving
US stock futures today
?
The Dow is gaining on health-care strength, while tech is under pressure from weak chipmaker guidance.
Q2. How does inflation data affect US stock futures?
Hotter inflation reduces chances of a big Fed rate cut, impacting market sentiment.
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