Dow stock futures advanced 0.17%, supported by mild easing in the U.S. dollar that benefits multinational exporters. Traders are assessing implications for Q2 earnings as currency shifts impact overseas revenue flows. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite are soaring -- and so are stock valuations. "We would not lean bearish because of shutdowns," Lee wrote in a note to clients Thursday. "If stocks are down, we would be dip buyers. This is something to be mindful of, as we may hear of dire warnings of calamity because of the shutdown." In early trading, Dow stock futures were up 0.28% ahead of the release of durable goods orders data. Economists expect robust figures which could underpin optimism in manufacturing-heavy Dow constituents.
