Markets Eye Jobless Claims Data

U.S. markets opened higher in pre-market trading as investors looked ahead to weekly jobless claims and next week’s FOMC decision. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were all up, with the tech-led rally—driven by a revived AI trade—supporting gains despite geopolitical risk from a blocked Strait of Hormuz lifting oil prices slightly. Markets also digested Q1 earnings: Boeing beat expectations, GE Vernova posted stronger-than-expected results and CME missed narrowly. Attention remains on Fed leadership uncertainty after Kevin Warsh’s testimony and an unresolved DOJ probe into Jerome Powell, which could affect policy continuity. Several large names (Tesla, IBM, Texas Instruments, Southwest, ServiceNow) are due to report, keeping earnings momentum and economic data (jobless claims) as the main near-term market drivers.