Stocks Rally as Investor Optimism Grows Amid Positive Economic Reports

Dow futures rose 150 points as U.S. stocks headed for a five-day winning streak, following Wall Street's fourth consecutive day of gains. Traders reacted positively to Salesforce's earnings beat, with shares rising over 5% in premarket trading. Investors are optimistic as weaker-than-expected payrolls data and GDP growth forecasts suggest the Federal Reserve may soon halt rate hikes. Earnings season continues, with Dollar General, Broadcom, and Lululemon Athletica set to report. Traders are also awaiting inflation data and jobless claims. Meanwhile, Palantir slid after Morgan Stanley warned of challenges in monetizing artificial intelligence, and European equity markets opened higher after UBS posted positive results. China's manufacturing PMI contracted for the fifth straight month, while South Korea's industrial production and retail sales fell in July. Japan's retail sales, however, rose more than expected in July.