US stock index futures sought to move higher, but made relatively lukewarm gains on Sunday night, even as Congress reached a deal on a $ 900 billion coronavirus package. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average {s: ym00]rose 57 points, or 0.2%, to 30,172, those for the S&P 500 ES00,
were flat at 3,705.75, while Nasdaq-100 futures were up 0.2% to 12,740.50. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said late Sunday that the agreement, seen by many market participants as essential to helping American workers and businesses, is “far from perfect” on the Senate floor. The deal, which still requires a vote in Congress, would come as the COVID-19 pandemic rages across much of the country. The aid package would ensure that eligible Americans receive direct payments of $ 600 and $ 300 a week in enhanced federal unemployment benefits. It would come after the stock market closed mixed on Friday, in the last full trading week of December, with the Dow DJIA,
124.32 points, or 0.4%, finish lower at 30179.05, the S&P 500 SPX,
ending with 13.07 points, or 0.4%, to close at 3,709.41, after hitting a record high during the day at 3,726.70. The Nasdaq Composite Index COMP,
lost 9.11 points, or 0.1%, on Friday to close at 12,755.64 after hitting its all-time high of 12,809.60. Congress’s efforts for a new aid package to combat the damaging economic effects of the pandemic were accompanied by an annual fiscal spending package of about $ 1.4 trillion, with lawmakers rushing to prevent a government shutdown would take effect on Monday at 12:01 am.