Stocks in the U.S. remained relatively quiet on Thursday as investors awaited fresh job data and news on rate hikes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dipped slightly, falling by around 30 points ahead of the highly-anticipated report. The S&P 500 ended the day relatively unchanged, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose by 0.7%. The mixed results came as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell wrapped up his Congress testimony, which highlighted the continued strength in jobs and the economy.

Meanwhile, Wall Street steadied itself a day after a notable steep tumble, with investors seemingly reassured by the latest earnings reports from companies. Many tech giants reported strong results, driving up their share prices and signaling a promising outlook for the sector.

Despite the optimistic sentiments, all eyes remain on Friday’s job report, which will provide key insights into the state of the U.S. economy. The report is expected to show additional job growth in July, cementing the recovery from the pandemic.

Analysts are also closely monitoring the potential for rate hikes. Although the Federal Reserve has given no clear indication of when it may begin to raise interest rates, many investors are betting on a rate hike sometime in the future, potentially as early as next year.

Overall, the stock market continues to show resilience in the face of economic uncertainty and disruption caused by the pandemic. With companies reporting strong earnings and optimism about the future, investors are hopeful that continued growth will drive further gains in the coming months.