U.S. stocks traded close to flat in early Wednesday trading, as investors shifted attention away from geopolitical tensions and toward a busy slate of economic data releases.
By mid-morning in New York, market moves were modest. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was slightly lower, while the broader S&P 500 edged higher. The technology-focused Nasdaq Composite posted modest gains, reflecting cautious positioning across equity markets.
Analysts said investors were largely looking past the disruption caused by a recent U.S. military strike in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Instead, focus has turned to incoming U.S. economic indicators that could shape expectations for monetary policy.
Data from ADP showed private employers added fewer jobs than expected in December, though the figure marked a rebound from November’s decline. Private payrolls increased by 41,000 last month, compared with a drop of 29,000 previously, undershooting economists’ forecasts.
Separate data is also expected to show a slight decline in job openings in November, a key measure of labor demand that policymakers closely monitor.
The state of the labor market remains central to recent policy decisions by the Federal Reserve, which cut interest rates several times in 2025 as concerns about employment outweighed worries over stubborn inflation.
Later in the day, investors are also awaiting fresh readings on U.S. services sector activity. The services industry accounts for more than two-thirds of economic output, meaning data from the Institute for Supply Management could offer important clues about economic momentum at the end of the fourth quarter.
On the corporate front, attention is turning to earnings due after the closing bell from Constellation Brands. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expect the spirits and beer producer to report fiscal third-quarter earnings of $2.64 per share on net sales of $2.16 billion.
Beer shipment volumes are projected to decline, and overall depletion rates are also expected to fall, reflecting weaker demand. Constellation and peers such as Molson Coors and Brown-Forman have faced pressure from softer alcohol consumption and higher tariffs on aluminum cans, which have weighed on margins.
Oil prices declined during the session. Brent crude slipped around 0.5%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate fell about 1%.
The move followed comments from President Donald Trump, who said the United States and Venezuela had reached an agreement allowing Caracas to export up to $2 billion worth of crude to Washington. Trump added that Venezuela would transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S., after exports had been blocked since December.
Trump has previously demanded that Venezuela and interim President Delcy Rodríguez grant U.S. companies broad access to the country’s oil sector, warning that further military action could follow if those demands are not met.
