U.S. stock futures are higher in pre-market trading for Thursday, December 21.The Dow Futures are trading at 24,756.00 for up with +0.07% percent or +17.00 point. The S&P 500 Futures are trading at 2,685.00 for up with +0.13% percent or +3.50point.The Nasdaq Futures are trading at 6,488.88 with 0.00% percent or -0.12 point.

In overnight trading in the Eastern Hemisphere,Japan’s Nikkei 225 are trading at 22,866.10  with  a loss of –0.11% percent or –25.62 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng are trading at 29,376.51 for up  with +0.49% percent or  +142.42 point. China’s Shanghai Composite are trading at 6,960.96 for up with  +0.38% percent or +12.45 point. India’s BSE Sensex are trading at 33,749.80 with a loss of –0.08% percent or  –27.58 point at 12:15 PM.The FTSE 100 are trading at 7,548.63 for up with +0.31% percent or +23.41 point. Germany’s DAX are trading at13,070.35 for up with  +0.01% percent or  +1.18 point. France’s CAC 40 are trading at 5,351.34 with a loss of –0.03% percent or –1.42 point. The Stoxx Europe 600 are trading at 388.65 for up with +0.07% percent or +0.28 point.

Thursday’s Factors and Events

U.S. stock index futures are pointing to a relatively flat open on Thursday, after a major bill was approved by Congress.

Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 28 points, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 5 points and 2.5 points, respectively.

On Wednesday, a major hurdle surrounding overhauling the U.S. tax code was conquered after House Republicans voted to approve tax reform, consequently meaning that the legislation can be sent to President Donald Trump’s desk by Christmas.

Wednesday’s Activity

U.S. market were lower on Wednesday. For the day the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 24,726.65 with a loss of -0.11% percent or –28.10 point. The S&P 500 closed at 2,679.25 with a loss of -0.08% percent or –2.22 point. The Nasdaq Composite closed at 6,960.96 with a loss of  –0.04%percent or  –2.89 point.

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,540.08 for up with +0.22% percent or +3.33 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 938.20 for up with +0.17% percent or  +1.58 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,899.96 for up with +0.15% percent or +2.93 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,186.57 with a loss of -0.14% percent or -1.72 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,585.42 with a loss of  –0.05% percent or  –0.74 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,484.13 with a loss of -0.07% percent or -1.02 point; and the Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index closed at 24,726.65 with a loss of –0.11% percent or –28.10 point.