Provided by
Dow Jones
By Joe Wallace
U.S. stock futures rose and the dollar dropped on Thursday as investors cheered signs of progress toward a fresh stimulus package that could support the economy through a potential winter slowdown.
Futures tied to the S&P 500 rose 0.5%, suggesting the benchmark stocks gauge may rise for a third straight day at the opening bell. The S&P 500 closed at its second-highest level ever Wednesday. Futures tied to the technology-focused Nasdaq-100 also rose 0.5%.
Congressional leaders on Wednesday closed in on a roughly $900 billion coronavirus relief deal that includes another round of direct payments to households. After months of gridlock, the emerging agreement represented a breakthrough at a critical time in the pandemic, with vaccine distribution under way but hospitalizations hitting record highs.