Stocks futures point to gains
U.S. stock futures were slightly positive on Thursday morning as market participants awaited the Labor Department to publish its weekly report on initial unemployment claims at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The report, which comes ahead of Friday’s August non-farm payrolls report, is expected to show claims for first-time unemployment benefits dropped to 345,000 for the week ended Aug. 28 from 353,000 the prior week.
Economists expect continuing claims for the week ended Aug. 21 to fall to 2.775 million from 2.862 million during the prior week.
At around 5:45 a.m. ET, futures tied to the blue-chip Dow traded up 62 points, or 0.18% to 35,352.
S&P 500 futures jumped 8.75 points, or 0.19% to 4,530 while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures added 33.75 points, or 0.22% to 15,643.
Moderna asks FDA to authorize a booster of its Covid-19 vaccine
Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) stock looks set to extend the gains it posted during the regular trading session on Wednesday after the company revealed it has submitted paperwork to the FDA to get regulatory approval for a third-dose booster of its coronavirus vaccine.
According to the paperwork, a third dose of the vaccine would be given six months after the initial two doses.
Moderna submitted initial data for the use of a 50-microgram booster dose of its two-shot vaccine. Its original vaccine has 100 micrograms of mRNA in each shot.
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a press release that recipients of the 50-microgram dose showed robust antibody responses against the Covid Delta variant.
Shares of Modern were up $4.56, or 1.17% to $394.50 each in the premarket trading session Thursday. The stock gained $13.25, or 3.52% on Wednesday to finish at $389.94.
DOJ reportedly planning to launch a new antitrust probe into Google
Meanwhile, shares in Google-parent Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) were under pressure early Thursday amid reports that the U.S. Justice Department is preparing to launch a new antitrust investigation into the search giant’s dominance in the online advertising market.
The suit could be announced before the end of 2021 as Justice Department has stepped up its pursuit, according to a Bloomberg News report.
It would be the second time that Google is facing a monopoly lawsuit from the DOJ after the department sued the company in October, claiming it illegally uses its market muscle to hurt rivals.
Alphabet stock was down less than a percent to $2,909.99 in the premarket trading session.