Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 0.2% at Thursday's open, after the S&P 500 closed at fresh all-time highs overnight.
ASX 200 Futures were up 3 points to 7571 near 8am AEDT. The Australian dollar was at 65.21 US cents, while Bitcoin increased by 2.4% to $US44,171 at 8.14am AEDT.
Investors will be closely monitoring important economic indicators from Japan, China, and the US. Japan's current account data for December will provide insights into the country's international economic transactions, including trade in goods, services, net income, and net current transfers.
From China, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) for January will be released at 12.30pm. These indices are crucial indicators of inflation, reflecting changes in the cost of goods and services from the perspective of both consumers and manufacturers.
In the US, December's consumer credit data will be announced, providing insights into consumer spending and borrowing trends, which play a significant role in the overall economic health of the country
The semiconductor company Nvidia crossed the $US700 mark in late New York trading, thereby increasing its market value to more than $US1.73 trillion. Its shares have increased by over 45% so far in 2024.
After the closing bell, Disney reported earnings that exceeded expectations, increased its dividend by 50%, and announced plans to buy back $US3 billion worth of its own stock. This news saw its shares surge by over 7%.
Roblox, the popular gaming company, saw its shares soar after it reported record revenue and player counts. In contrast, New York Community Bancorp shares continued to decline despite the company's efforts to reassure investors about its strong financial position.
Ford Motor (NYSE:F) is developing affordable, small electric vehicles to counter its electric vehicle losses and compete with Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and Chinese automakers. The plans were revealed after the automaker announced adjusted earnings per share of US29¢, more than double the US13¢ analysts expected on average. Meanwhile, CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) reported better fourth-quarter results than Wall Street expected, easing investor concerns about increasing care expenses in its Aetna insurance unit.