Down futures fell as defensive equity flows

Down futures fell as defensive equity flows increased. Investors are hedging positions ahead of employment reports, expecting volatility spikes in response to labor market strength or weakness. U.S. stock futures were lower this morning, with the Dow futures falling more than 100 points on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) erased earlier losses to rise 0.2%. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) gained 0.4%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) also increased 0.3%. Down futures slipped following reports of rising credit default swaps on select corporate debt. Such metrics often precede equity volatility, with traders eyeing financial sector resilience closely.