U.S. markets were set to open higher on Thursday after President Donald Trump signed a funding bill that officially ends the longest federal government shutdown on record. With Washington back to work, traders are preparing for the return of delayed economic reports, although the White House has cautioned that several major October indicators may never be released. Meanwhile, Cisco Systems lifted its full-year guidance on the back of surging AI-related demand, and the latest U.K. data shows only marginal growth in the British economy during the third quarter.
Futures edge upward
U.S. index futures moved higher early Thursday as investors welcomed the resolution of the prolonged shutdown.
As of 02:59 ET, Dow futures were up 89 points (+0.2%), S&P 500 futures gained 6 points (+0.1%), and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 37 points (+0.2%).
The previous trading session ended with a mixed performance: the Dow Jones Industrial Average set another record close, the S&P 500 posted a small gain, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped as investors rotated out of high-valuation tech names.
Sentiment took an additional hit after a report suggested ChatGPT developer OpenAI may be dealing with much higher expenses and cash burn than expected—adding to worries surrounding overstretched AI-linked stocks.
Even so, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) surged 9% after unveiling an ambitious $100 billion revenue target for its data-center division.
Trump signs funding bill, officially closing chapter on 43-day shutdown
Late Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed legislation reopening the U.S. government, concluding the 43-day shutdown—the longest in U.S. history. The bill cleared the House in a 222–209 vote earlier in the day, mostly along party lines, after receiving Senate approval earlier in the week.
The Oval Office signing effectively reinstated federal workers and ensured the resumption of paychecks, reversing weeks of forced furloughs. However, the core dispute over expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies—central to the budget standoff—remains unresolved.
For Wall Street, the end of the shutdown means the return of key economic releases that policymakers and investors rely on. As ING analysts noted: “With a bit of luck, we may see job numbers starting early next week,” though the administration has also warned that October’s jobs and inflation data may never be released. Such gaps could leave the Federal Reserve with limited information ahead of its December rate meeting.
Cisco boosts annual outlook
Shares of Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) jumped more than 7% in after-hours trading after the company upgraded its full-year financial outlook.
Riding the wave of AI-driven data-center expansion, Cisco now expects fiscal 2026 revenue of $60.2 billion to $61 billion—up from its earlier forecast of $59–60 billion. It also raised its adjusted earnings-per-share projection to $4.08–$4.14 from $4–$4.06.
Cisco also said it anticipates generating $3 billion in AI infrastructure-related revenue in its current fiscal year. The company’s stock is up roughly 25% year-to-date as businesses accelerate cloud and data-center investment to support AI workloads.
U.K. economy gains only slightly in Q3
The U.K. economy posted only modest growth during the third quarter and contracted in September as the country heads toward a budget that is expected to include significant tax increases.
Data from the Office for National Statistics showed GDP rising 0.1% between July and September, after a 0.3% gain in the previous quarter. Monthly GDP slipped 0.1% in September, and annual growth slowed to 1.3%.
Gold pushes above $4,200
Gold prices climbed above $4,200 per ounce on Thursday, extending their recent rally amid lingering uncertainty about the U.S. economic outlook despite the end of the shutdown.
The metal has strengthened over the past week following weak private-sector labour figures that increased expectations of a December rate cut by the Federal Reserve. However, the pace of gains has moderated amid reports that Fed officials remain split on whether easing is warranted next month.
Strong central-bank demand—especially from China—continues to support bullion. Recent data show the People’s Bank of China added to its gold reserves for the twelfth consecutive month in September.
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