Stocks Tick Higher Ahead of ECB Decision and Tech Earnings

US stock futures snapped a three-day losing streak and Treasuries steadied, though risk appetite stayed in check ahead of major tests including tech earnings and a European interest-rate decision, according to Bloomberg. S&P 500 contracts rose 0.2%, trimming the week's loss to less than 1%, while Brent crude held above $101 a barrel as Iran signaled it was preparing for an intensifying war. Shorter-dated Treasuries edged higher as traders awaited US factory-price data, and the dollar barely moved. Investors face a busy calendar. First is the European Central Bank rate decision, with a hike already priced in and attention on guidance. Oracle's earnings after the close will offer a fresh read on the AI outlook, while the August producer price index could signal the path of inflation and monetary policy. CaixaBank AM's Santiago Mateo Yanguas said the PPI report matters but probably not enough on its own to change the Fed's decision next week, though a significant surprise could still move markets by shifting expectations for the rate path beyond the next meeting, particularly in Treasury yields and rate-sensitive sectors. Markets largely shrugged off President Donald Trump's promise to give every adult US citizen a $5,000 dividend if Republicans keep control of both houses of Congress. TD Securities' Prashant Newnaha said the pledge may grab headlines, but the market's real focus is on how the US Treasury buyback performs later in the day and what US CPI holds tomorrow. In corporate news, Grab Holdings is in talks to buy a majority stake in Singapore-based buy-now-pay-later platform Atome Financial, according to people familiar with the matter, and Apple unveiled its first foldable smartphone. Across markets, the Stoxx Europe 600 was little changed, Dow futures rose 0.4% and the MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.4%. The euro was little changed at $1.1641, the yen rose 0.1% to 153.39 per dollar, and the offshore yuan held near 6.7049. Bitcoin slipped 0.3% to $78,074.76 and Ether was little changed at $2,471.78. The 10-year US Treasury yield held at 4.84%, Brent crude rose 0.2% to $101.39 a barrel, and spot gold gained 0.4% to $4,414.83 an ounce.