S&P 500 Futures Surge 43 Points Ahead of GDP Release

U.S. futures point to a strong Wall Street open on April 17, 2026, with S&P 500 up 43.25 points at 8:10 am ET after Wednesday's 0.7% Dow drop to 41,914.75. This extends yesterday's milder gains (S&P futures +6.75 at 7:45 am ET), fueled by 2-4% Asian rallies and 2% oil decline on Saudi output reports. Investors await 8:30 am ET Q2 GDP consensus at 3.0%, jobless claims, durable goods, and Fed speeches amid cautiously bullish tone.