Stock Futures Are Indicating Another Choppy Open to End the Week

A Justice Department investigation into UnitedHealth (UNH) is weighing on blue chips, and weekly wins could be out of range for all three major indexes

Stock futures are pointing to another choppy open to end the week. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) were last seen off by triple-digits this morning, while futures on the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) are flat and higher, respectively. A Justice Department investigation into UnitedHealth (UNH) is weighing on blue chips, and weekly wins could be out of range for all three major indexes, should markets continue their unsteady price action.

Meanwhile, a Justice Department investigation into UnitedHealth (UNH) is pressuring blue chips prior to the open. The insurer is being probed by the DOJ over allegations that it misled Medicare Advantage customers about out-of-pocket costs, according to the Wall Street Journal. The probe could lead to both civil and criminal charges against the company.

Broader market price action, meanwhile, is setting traders up for another choppy session. The major indexes have struggled for direction this week following the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and strong January jobs data, which sparked concerns among some traders that the central bank may need to keep rates higher for longer. Still, all three indexes are on track to snap two-week losing streaks.

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Asian Markets Shake Off Tariff Threats

Asian markets finished higher across the board today. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng hit three-year highs and closed 4% higher with the help of Alibaba (BABA) and other tech stocks, while China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.9%, Japan’s Nikkei added 0.3%, and the South Korean Kospi tacked on 0.02%. Concerns over Trump-era tariffs remained in focus, as well as inflation data out of Japan, which rose 4% in January to its highest level since January 2023, while core inflation rose 3.2%.

European bourses are also trading higher. London’s FTSE 100 is up 0.1% at last glance, while the French CAC 40 and German DAX rise 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively. U.K. retail sales rose 1.7% month-on-month in January, boosted by food sales, which smashed analyst expectations of a 0.3% rise.