US Stock Market Update

New York, January 16, 2026, 06:48 EST — Premarket

Market Trends

U.S. stock index futures climbed Friday, driven by gains in memory-chip stocks as traders eyed upcoming factory data and Federal Reserve comments. By 5:52 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis had added 47 points, S&P 500 E-minis gained 20, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis jumped 148.25.

Top Performers and Losers

Micron surged 6.4% in premarket trading, with Western Digital up 4.9% and Seagate rising 4.1%. Meanwhile, J.B. Hunt Transport Services dropped nearly 5% after reporting a decline in quarterly revenue.

Economic Data and Fed Comments

Investors are awaiting December industrial production figures set for release later this morning. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly described policy as “in a good place,” urging the central bank to be “deliberate” in its next moves—a phrase markets often interpret as a signal to hold steady.

Upcoming Economic Schedule

Friday’s U.S. economic schedule includes:

• Industrial production data at 9:15 a.m. ET, with economists expecting a modest 0.1% monthly gain for December
• Capacity utilization figures at 9:15 a.m. ET, with consensus holding steady at 76.0%
• NAHB/Wells Fargo housing market index at 10:00 a.m. ET, with the consensus expecting the index to rise slightly to 40 from 39
• Baker Hughes weekly oil and gas rig count at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Treasury’s TIC flow data at 4:00 p.m. ET

Federal Reserve Updates

Fed Governor Michelle Bowman and Vice Chair Philip Jefferson are set to speak later Friday, with their comments coming right before the Fed’s blackout period starts Saturday. The Fed is set to meet Jan. 27-28, with expectations strong that rates will remain between 3.50% and 3.75%.

Market Outlook

A long weekend could heighten nerves, with U.S. stock and bond markets closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Next week’s earnings schedule heats up with Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel set to report, giving investors a chance to gauge enthusiasm for semiconductors and other cyclical sectors.

Risks and Opportunities

Near-term risks run both directions. If factory data beats expectations or utilization climbs, yields could jump, putting pressure on growth stocks sensitive to rates. On the flip side, a weak report would reignite concerns over fading momentum following a string of delayed data releases.

Conclusion

Following Friday’s data and Fed comments, all eyes turn to the Fed’s Jan. 27-28 meeting, when policymakers will announce their rate decision on Jan. 28. With the economy remaining a puzzle for investors, upcoming data releases and earnings reports will be crucial in shaping market trends and investor sentiment.