Stock Market Today: Stocks extend run; Nvidia world's most-valuable

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U.S. equity futures moved higher again in early Thursday trading, powered by gains for some megacap tech stocks, as investors looked to extend the market's recent record highs heading into the final stretch of an impressive second quarter. 

Updated at 8:38 AM EDT

Data dump

Weekly jobless claims eased modestly over the period ending on June 15, falling by 4,000 to a higher-than-expected tally of 238,000.

Housing starts, meanwhile, fell 5.5% in May to an annualized rate of 1.277 million units, the Commerce Department said, with permits for new construction slumping to an annual pace of 1.386 million, well below the Street's 1.45 million forecast.

Finally , the Philadelphia Fed's reading of manufacturing activity around the mid-Atlantic region slowed to 1.3 in June from 4.5 in May, with a bump higher in input prices and modest improvements in new orders and employment prospects. 

❖ U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS DUE 8:30 A.M. ET; EXP 235K FOR WEEK

❖ U.S. MAY HOUSING STARTS DUE 8:30 A.M. ET; EXP +1.5%— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) June 20, 2024

Updated at 8:07 AM EDT

McLovin it?

McDonald's  (MCD)  shares edged higher in early trading after the world's biggest restaurant chain said it would introduce a limited time value meal in the U.S.

McDonald's, which has pushed back hard against accusations of post-pandemic price increases, said the new "$5 meal deal" would launch in participating stores on June 25 and include a sandwich, nuggets, fries and a drink.

McDonald's shares were marked 0.1% higher in premarket trading to indicate an opening bell price of $251.00 each.

$McD Corp keeps it classy and rarely barks back.

HOWEVER, last month @financebuzz spewed some data that was widely inaccurate. Sadly, no one (including Finance Buzz) took 5 minutes to double check their data & soon this false narrative on our pricing took off like a rocket