Current dow futures are edging higher this morning

Current Dow futures are edging higher this morning, up about 45 points, signaling mild optimism among investors as earnings season gains momentum. Traders are closely watching US inflation data, which could steer Federal Reserve rate expectations and short-term equity volatility. It's becoming downright impossible to sweep a Shiller P/E multiple of 40 under the rug, regardless of how fast a handful of megacap companies are projected to grow in the coming years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) rose 0.3%, while those on the benchmark S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) gained 0.35%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) also gained nearly 0.4%. Current Dow futures opened 0.15% higher, supported by a rally in banking stocks following improved lending margins. Traders eye the upcoming Fed minutes for clues on monetary policy pivot timing.