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U.S. stock futures edged higher Wednesday as investors focused on renewed artificial intelligence enthusiasm, upcoming U.S. economic data and a key meeting between U.S. and Chinese leaders.
Dow Jones futures rose 41 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures also gained 0.1% as of 02:57 ET. Wall Street finished mixed Tuesday, with the Dow declining, the S&P 500 flat and the Nasdaq Composite advancing.
AI stocks remained in focus after strong consumer demand for Meta Platforms’ new Muse AI agent boosted semiconductor shares and helped drive the Nasdaq to record highs. However, Muse’s rapid adoption also raised concerns about disruption across financial services, travel and other industries.
Financial stocks came under pressure as investors assessed Muse’s partnerships with PayPal and Plaid in payments and financial planning. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and several brokerage firms declined, while Charles Schwab and LPL Financial fell more than 6%. Travel stocks also weakened amid expectations that AI agents could reshape trip planning and bookings.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to speak at a company event Wednesday, where Muse and broader AI developments are expected to attract attention. Meta shares have climbed more than 20% since Muse launched on September 8, adding over $200 billion to the company’s market value.
Investors are also watching the debate over AI safety as technology companies accelerate spending on chips, data centers and other AI infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Brent crude remained below $100 per barrel as markets monitored diplomatic efforts surrounding the Middle East conflict. President Donald Trump said U.S. officials held productive talks with Iranian representatives Tuesday, fueling hopes for further negotiations. Saudi Arabia has also restarted oil flows through its east-west pipeline, while Iraq is increasing exports.
On the economic front, preliminary S&P Global U.S. PMI data is due Wednesday. The services PMI is expected to ease to 56.0 from 56.5 in August, while manufacturing activity is forecast at 53.4, down from 53.9. Readings above 50 indicate economic expansion.
