Future U.S. stock markets won ahead of an intense day of profit reporting and the inauguration of Joe Biden as 46th president.
Futures tied to the S&P 500 rose 0.4% on Wednesday, while contracts related to the high-tech Nasdaq-100 gained 0.8%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.1%.
Investors analyzed a list of reports on results from UnitedHealth, Procter & Gamble, US Bancorp and Morgan Stanley. United Airlines will post its profits right after markets close.
Shares have started the week on an optimistic note, with the top three indices just below record highs. Investors remain optimistic that the fiscal stimulus is supporting companies through the damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This will pressure companies to deliver profits during this season and meet market expectations, said Brian O’Reilly, head of market strategy at Mediolanum Investment Funds.