08:13 AM EDT, 07/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were little changed Wednesday as traders refrained from making big bets ahead of the Independence Day holiday.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.1%, while the S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures were both flat.

US equity markets will close early at 1 pm ET Wednesday and will remain closed on Thursday for Independence Day.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.1% at $86.33 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate up 0.05% at $82.84 per barrel, on signs of dwindling US stockpiles. Data from industry group American Petroleum Institute showed a 9.163 million drawdown in the country's crude inventories, according to media reports.

Private payrolls based on ADP Institute's employment report, scheduled for release at 8:15 am ET, is expected to increase by 163,000 in June following May's 152,000 growth, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The US trade deficit, due at 8:30 am ET, is expected to widen to $76.3 billion in May from $74.6 billion in April. New unemployment claims are seen coming in at 234,000 in the week ended June 29 versus 233,000 claims in the prior week.

Factory orders, slated for 10 am ET, are expected to rise 0.2% in May following April's 0.7% growth. Forecasters see the Institute for Supply Management's Services index coming in at 52.6 for June versus May's 53.8.