US Stock Market Today S&P 500 Futures Rise On Strong Spending And Jobs Data

The Morning Bull – US Market Morning Update Wednesday, Apr, 22 2026

US stock futures are pointing higher this morning, with E mini S&P 500 contracts up about 0.5% and Nasdaq 100 futures ahead roughly 0.6%, as investors respond to stronger than expected economic clues. Retail sales jumped 1.7% in March, the best since March 2025, helped by a 15.5% surge at gasoline stations, which means households are still spending even as fuel takes a bigger slice of the budget. ADP payroll data shows private employers adding about 54,750 jobs a week, a sign companies are still hiring. The dilemma now is whether this mix of firm spending and hot jobs keeps pressure on interest rate sensitive areas like growth tech, small caps and housing related stocks, or instead supports consumer driven sectors that benefit from a still confident shopper.

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Top Movers

• Avis Budget Group (CAR) jumped 17.27% as wild short squeeze trading spilled over into Tuesday’s session.
• Astera Labs (ALAB) gained 9.20% after a US$25 price target hike from RBC and fresh UBS coverage.
• Northern Trust (NTRS) rose 8.02% after reporting stronger first quarter earnings and higher net income.

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Top Losers

• Tractor Supply (TSCO) fell 11.69% after first quarter earnings and multiple price target cuts from analysts.
• Circle Internet Group (CRCL) declined 9.72% following a neutral rating and concerns linked to the Drift hack.
• EchoStar (SATS) declined 8.33%.

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On The Radar

Earnings from mega cap tech, autos and industrials are set to share the spotlight with fresh reads on US growth.

• Auto & AI Focus: Tesla (TSLA) reports Q1 results on Wednesday, with attention on margins, deliveries and AI related commentary.
• Enterprise Software Gauge: ServiceNow (NOW) posts Q1 numbers on Wednesday, giving a view on large corporate software spending trends.
• Industrial & Aerospace Check: Boeing (BA) issues Q1 results on Wednesday, highlighting order trends and production updates for aircraft programs.
• Semiconductor Watch: Intel (INTC) reports Q1 earnings on Thursday, offering a read on data center, PC demand and chip investment plans.
• Consumer & Payments Pulse: American Express (AXP) posts Q1 results on Thursday, spotlighting card spending, credit quality and travel related volumes.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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