The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a higher open on Wednesday, with stocks likely to add to the gains posted in the previous session.

Early buying interest is likely to be generated in reaction to upbeat earnings news from big name companies such as Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) and Travelers (NYSE TRV).

Shares of Netflix are surging by 14.6 percent in pre-market trading after the streaming giant reported fourth quarter results that exceeded analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines. The company also said it is raising prices after a jump in subscribers during the quarter.

Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble is also seeing notable pre-market strength after reporting better than expected fiscal second quarter results.

Shares of Travelers are also jumping by 5.8 percent in pre-market trading after the insurance giant reported fourth quarter results well above analyst estimates.

On the other hand, shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE JNJ) may move to the downside after the drug giant reported better than expected fourth quarter results but provided disappointing sales guidance for 2025.

After a positive start, U.S. stocks largely kept moving higher on Tuesday, and the major averages all ended the day’s session on a firm note. A drop in bond yields and optimism about a few interest rate cuts this year contributed to the positive sentiment in the market.

The Dow closed up 537.98 points or 1.2 percent, at 44,025.81. The S&P 500 ended higher by 52.58 points or 0.9 percent, at 6,049.24, while the Nasdaq settled at 19,756.78, gaining 126.58 points or 0.6 percent.

Investors picked up stocks as worries about tariffs eased a bit as Donald Trump, who signed a slew of executive orders on Monday soon after being sworn in as the 47th President of United States, refrained from signaling trade barriers against China. He threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on Mexico and Canada but did not enact a policy.

Oracle surged nearly 7.5 percent, buoyed by reports that Trump will announce private sector investment of up to $500 billion to fund artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Charles Schwab climbed nearly 6 percent on strong earnings news. 3M moved up sharply, buoyed by stronger than expected quarterly earnings.

General Motors, Moderna, Dollar General, Micron Technology, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Air, Delta Airlines, Caterpillar, Nike, Starbucks and United Airlines Holdings gained 3 to 5 percent.

Nvidia, Boeing, Amazon, Target, Eli Lilly, US Bancorp, American Express and Netflix were among the other notable gainers in the session.

Walgreens Boots Alliance tanked nearly 10 percent, weighed down by the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the company. The company, which made a multibillion-dollar settlement over opioid prescriptions two years ago, now faces a suit that alleges it dispensed “millions of unlawful prescriptions.”

Apple Inc. shares declined sharply following a series of downgrades due to weak iPhone sales and somewhat disappointing performance in hardware and services segments.

Chevron, Merck, Lennar and Booking Holdings were some of the other notable losers.

U.S Index Futures Trading – Taking the first steps with Plus500

Beginning your futures trading journey requires careful preparation. Start by opening a Plus500 account with their minimum $100 deposit — qualifying for their initial bonus program.

Spend time in the demo environment, understanding how futures contracts behave and how the platform’s tools can support your strategy.

As you develop confidence, consider starting with micro contracts, which offer smaller position sizes ideal for learning position management.

Plus500’s educational resources can guide you through this process, helping you understand both basic concepts and advanced trading strategies.

Start your futures trading journey with Plus500 today

Trading futures carries substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Plus500US Financial Services LLC is registered with the CFTC and member of the NFA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Bonus terms and conditions apply.