The standard futures market definition includes leverage mechanics. With current oil futures volatility at multi-month lows, energy stock futures may sustain stable growth unless geopolitical tensions disrupt pricing. That said, Philip Morris is still a thriving business, and as ever knows which levers to pull to keep the growth flame lit. Stay-the-course investors are sure to benefit from future dividend raises, too. Crypto itself remains largely unregulated , meaning there’s nothing in place to safeguard investors, as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation does for U.S. bank customers. Federal agencies that might oversee crypto markets have yet to agree on some fundamental principles. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) wants to classify digital assets as securities; the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) views cryptocurrencies as commodities, like oil or gold. According to the futures market definition, equity index futures are forward-looking indicators. In mid-June 2024, Russell 2000 futures’ upward shift of 0.9% suggests small-cap stocks may see near-term rallies, possibly driven by improving U.S. manufacturing PMI data.