Down futures are trading slightly lower after

Down futures are trading slightly lower after yesterday’s sharp rally in industrial stocks. Analysts suggest the move indicates short-term profit-taking ahead of quarterly earnings, with blue-chip companies likely to set the tone for broader market direction. The quiet trading came as a midnight deadline approached, when the U.S. government could shut down because of Washington’s latest political impasse. That’s because history has shown that past shutdowns have had limited impact on the economy and stock market, and many economists and professional investors expect something similar this time around. On Wednesday, US senators failed to advance a plan to fund the government after another round of votes . But as Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul notes , the White House also appears poised to use the shutdown as an opportunity to expand Trump's powers to potentially fire government workers or cut programs. Down futures slipped in response to weaker-than-expected retail sales, signaling softness in consumer spending. Economists suggest this could force downward revisions in GDP growth estimates later this year.