Nasdaq Futures Opening Update as on 16 August 2018

U.S. stock futures higher  in pre-market trading for Thursday, August 16.The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 7,420.75 up with +0.63% percent or +46.75 point.The Dow Futures is trading at 25,330.00 up with +0.57% percent or +143.00 point.The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 2,833.50 up with +0.43% percent or +12.25 point.

In overnight trading in the Eastern Hemisphere, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 22,192.04 with a loss of -0.055% percent or -12.18 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 27,046.68 with a loss of -1.01% percent or -276.91 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 2,705.19 with a loss of  -0.66% percent or  -18.07  point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 37,763.16  with a loss of -0.23% percent or -88.84 point at 12:15 PM.The FTSE 100 is trading at 7,544.65 up with +0.62% percent or +46.78 point. Germany’s DAX is trading at 12,220.02  up with +0.47% percent or +57.01  point. France’s CAC 40 is trading at 5,336.70  up with +0.59% percent or +31.49 point. The Stoxx Europe 600 is trading at 381.15 up with +0.38% percent or +1.47 point.

Thursday’s Factors and Events

The further we get into 2018, the more we’re starting to see Alphabet ‘s (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Waymo driverless vehicle business taking shape. Since the beginning of this year, the company has announced deals to buy up to tens of thousands of vehicles for its upcoming public ride-hailing service, created a partnership with Avis Budget Group to have its self-driving fleet managed by the rental car company, and even launched a pilot self-driving trucking service for long-haul trucks.

The most recent announcement from Waymo involves its commitment to assist cities in making public transportation even more accessible. The company wrote in a blog post on July 31 that it’s working with Valley Metro, the Phoenix-area public transportation authority, to launch a pilot program that offers self-driving vehicle rides for Valley Metro employees to get them to and from the city’s buses and light rail.

While the program will begin with employees starting in August, Waymo plans to eventually expand it to Valley Metro RideChoice travelers, which the company says covers “groups traditionally underserved by public transit.”

Wednesday’s Activity

For the day The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 7,774.12 with a loss of -1.23% percent or  -96.78 point.the Dow is trading at 25,162.41  with a loss of -0.54% percent or -137.51 point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,818.37  with a loss of – 0.76% percent or -21.59 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 22,192.04 with a loss of -0.055% percent or -12.18 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 27,046.68 with a loss of -1.01% percent or -276.91 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 2,705.19 with a loss of  -0.66% percent or  -18.07  point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 37,763.16  with a loss of -0.23% percent or -88.84 point at 12:15 PM.