U.S. stock futures higher in pre-market trading for,October 17.The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 7,985.75  up with +0.47% percent or +37.25 point.The Dow Futures is trading at 27,037.50 up with +0.36% percent or +97.50 point. The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 3,003.62 up with +0.41% percent or +12.12 point.

In overnight trading in the Eastern Hemisphere,In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 22,451.86 with a loss of –0.094% percent or –21.06 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 26,789.32 up with +0.47% percent or +125.04 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 2,975.18 with a loss of –0.12% percent or –3.54  point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 38,662.21 up with +0.16% percent or +63.22 point at 12:15 PM.Germany’s DAX is trading at 12,698.06 up with +0.22% percent or  +27.95 point. France’s CAC 40 is trading at 5,698.70 up with +0.032% percent or +1.80 point. The Stoxx Europe 600 is trading at 394.31  up with +0.22% percent or +0.84  point.

Thursday’s Factors and Events

That enthusiasm was offset Thursday by weaker-than-expected September retail sales numbers, while uncertainty around U.S.-China trade talks continues to cast a cloud over the market. Overall, the potential for elevated volatility is expected to remain a concern for investors since October has recorded nearly 40% higher volatility than the other 11 months since World War 2, Stovall said, noting CFRA still expects to see share prices end the year higher on an improvement in earnings per share expectations.

Wednesday Activity

For the day The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 8,124.18  with a loss of -0.30% percent or -24.52 point.the Dow is trading at 27,001.98 with a loss of –0.084% percent or  –22.82  point. The S&P 500 is trading at 2,989.69  with a loss  –0.20% percent or –5.99 point. 

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,525.06 up with +0.12% percent or +1.76 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 945.05 up with +0.29% percent or +2.73 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,922.40 with a loss of –0.099% percent or -1.91 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,326.73   with a loss of –0.13% percent or –1.70 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,748.90 with a loss of –0.23%  percent or –4.07  point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,650.31  with a loss of –0.26%  or -0.26% point.