US stock futures edged higher on Wednesday as investors weighed a blockbuster takeover approach for PayPal against fresh inflation data and another test of corporate earnings.
Dow futures were up 15 points, S&P 500 futures gained 0.1%, while Nasdaq-100 futures advanced 0.4%.
The gains followed a strong start to bank earnings and a softer-than-expected consumer-price report, which reduced fears of an immediate Federal Reserve rate rise.
Still, with the S&P 500 less than 1% below its June record, the bar for earnings remains high. PayPal and ASML led premarket gainers, while oil remained a key risk.
5 things to know before Wall Street opens
1. PayPal becomes the morning’s biggest mover
PayPal surged as much as 18.5% in premarket trading after Stripe and Advent International reportedly offered $60.50 a share for the payments company.
The proposal values PayPal at more than $53 billion and represents a roughly 28% premium to Tuesday’s close.
The approach is backed by about $50 billion of committed financing, although PayPal has not engaged and there is no certainty a transaction will follow.
2. Futures extend the post-CPI advance
The softer June inflation report encouraged investors to add risk before the opening bell. However, the market’s proximity to record levels leaves little room for weak guidance.
The S&P 500 has gained more than 10% this year, making earnings delivery increasingly important to the next stage of the rally.
3. Producer prices provide the next inflation test
June producer-price data are due at 8:30 am ET and will show whether pipeline pressures are easing alongside consumer inflation.
Traders now see about a 17% chance of a quarter-point increase at the Fed’s July 28-29 meeting, down from roughly 41% before Tuesday’s CPI report.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh will also begin the second day of his semi-annual testimony at 10 am.
His message on Tuesday was cautious, with policymakers still seeking more evidence that the improvement in inflation can be sustained.
4. Financial earnings remain in focus
BlackRock reported a 20% increase in second-quarter profit to $1.91 billion as rising markets lifted assets under management to $15.34 trillion.
Its shares gained in premarket trading.
Morgan Stanley reports at about 7:30 am, with investors watching trading revenue, wealth-management flows and the rebound in investment banking.
5. ASML lifts chips, but Iran remains an overhang
US-listed ASML shares rose 3.8% after the company increased its 2026 sales outlook to €43 billion to €45 billion.
Second-quarter revenue reached €9.33 billion, strengthening confidence that AI-related chip spending remains robust.
That optimism is being tempered by fresh Middle East threats.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that it could target other export corridors benefiting the US and its allies after Washington restored a blockade on Iranian ports.
Any broader disruption could push oil higher and revive the inflation concerns that Tuesday’s CPI report had briefly eased.
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