December S&P 500 futures (ESZ23) are up +0.05%, and December Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQZ23) are up +0.10% this morning as market participants looked ahead to the release of the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting, while also gearing up for a flurry of earnings reports.
In Friday’s trading session, Wall Street’s major averages ended in the green. Gap Inc (GPS) soared over +30% after the mall retailer reported better-than-expected Q3 results. Also, Ross Stores Inc (ROST) gained more than +7% after the off-price retailer posted upbeat Q3 results. In addition, energy stocks gained ground as the price of WTI crude rose more than +4%. On the bearish side, Applied Materials Inc (AMAT) fell about -4% following a Reuters report stating that the Department of Justice is reviewing the company for allegedly sending “hundreds of millions” of dollars worth of equipment to Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation without the required export licenses.
