Stock Futures Rise as Oil Prices Fall

U.S. stock futures rose Thursday, with Dow and S&P 500 futures up about 0.82% and Nasdaq 100 futures gaining nearly 1%, as falling oil prices eased concerns about supply disruptions and inflation. Oil declined after Saudi Arabia outlined plans to restore pipeline capacity and increase crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, where U.S. officials said 18 million barrels of crude and petroleum products had recently passed. The improved sentiment followed a weaker Wall Street session in which the Dow fell 1.21%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.45% and the Nasdaq was nearly flat. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00%, its first increase in three years, while projections and Chair Kevin Warsh’s comments suggested another hike could come this year. President Donald Trump criticized the decision and called for rates of 1% or lower, while investors awaited weekly jobless-claims data and further clues about monetary policy.