Stock market today: Dow futures rise in early Black Friday trading

On WednesdayThe Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 138 points, or 0.31%, to 44,722, the S&P 500 fell 23 points, or 0.38%, to 5,999 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 115 points, or 0.6%, to 19,060.

Futures suggest the S&P 500 could hit its 53rd record high of the year as investors return from the Thanksgiving break optimistic. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close early for Black Friday, halting trading at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

According to Kathleen Brooks, director of research at

“As we approach the final weeks of the year, a strong Black Friday could boost the broader stock market, which has begun to outperform the U.S. tech giants,” Brooks adds.