How to Check Dow Futures

Dow futures provide clues about the market.

Investors who trade actively in the stock market often look to the Dow futures as an indication of how the coming trading day will go. Investors make bets on the future direction of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and those bets are reflected in the Dow futures. Those Dow futures provide a glimpse into how investors are feeling about the market, and that market sentiment is often reflected in the movement of stocks at the opening bell. Whether your goal is to day-trade your way to a fortune or just keep an eye on the day-to-day movements of the market, tracking Dow futures can be a valuable tool.

Instructions

1. Check the closing level of the Dow for the previous day. This information is readily accessible in the financial section of your local newspaper or financial publication, as well as online at various financial websites.

2. Log on to financial websites like CNN Money and Yahoo! Finance. Look for the link to the market futures and stories about the upcoming trading day.

3. Check the level of Dow futures several times in the lead-up to the opening bell. Financial news and world events can have a strong impact on market futures, as investors digest the news and react to it.

Tips & Warnings

• Use caution when trading in reaction to market futures. The direction of market sentiment can change rapidly throughout the day, both before and after the market opens.

References

• CNN Money: Stock Futures