Wall Street Set for Flat Open Ahead of Jobs Report

U.S. stock futures indicate an upward trend in early trading, with the S&P 500 futures up by 0.3%, driven by an 11.9% surge in Salesforce shares following strong fiscal third-quarter revenues. Private sector employment rose by 146,000 jobs in November, slightly below expectations, as traders anticipate the Labor Department's more comprehensive jobs report due on Friday, forecasting a 200,000 job increase and a slight uptick in the unemployment rate to 4.2%. Wall Street is also awaiting remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials, with a 65% probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut later this month. Asian and European markets finished mostly higher, signaling positive global sentiment, while concerns remain regarding inflation and potential impacts of upcoming economic data. The Institute for Supply Management's report on service sector activity is also expected, with growth anticipated despite a predicted slight decline in the PMI index. Overall, trading activity remains cautious as investors weigh recent economic indicators against broader market trends.