Stock futures market this morning suggests optimism, with S&P 500 futures up 18 points as crude oil prices retreat, lowering input costs for manufacturing-heavy stocks. Seasonal patterns also favour late-Q2 equity advances in such conditions. Private placements have their pros and cons. They lead to share dilution, since issuing new shares means current shareholder positions are worth less. The White House is doubling down on warnings that thousands of government jobs could be on the line if the government shuts down at midnight on Tuesday. Stock futures show how geopolitical events impact stocks. Overnight, peace talks in a key commodity-exporting region pushed Dow futures upward as risk premiums in industrial metals eased, a shift traders exploit for near-term positioning.
