09:10 AM EDT, 10/01/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were down ahead of Wednesday's opening bell after the federal government largely shut down after lawmakers failed to make a deal to extend government funding.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.3% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.5% lower.

The shutdown began at midnight following unsuccessful budget negotiations between the White House and Democratic Party leaders.

Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 0.8% at $65.51 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.8% lower at $61.88 per barrel.

The ADP Institute's September employment report, released at 8:15 am ET, showed a 32,000 drop in private payrolls following August's revised 3,000 decrease, compared with estimates compiled by Bloomberg for a 51,000 increase.

The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, slated for 9:45 am ET, is seen coming at 52.0 in September, unchanged from the flash report.

The Institute for Supply Management's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, due at 10 am ET, is seen coming in at 49.0 for September versus August's 48.7.

The federal agency bulletin on construction spending is not expected to be released.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei ended 0.9% lower, while the Chinese and Hong Kong markets were closed for holiday. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.7%, and Germany's DAX index was up 0.4% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Lithium Americas ( LAC ) shares were 34% higher pre-bell after the company reported a deal with its joint venture partner General Motors ( GM ) and the US Department of Energy for a $435 million first draw on a loan to fund the Thacker Pass lithium project. AES ( AES ) stock was up 11% after the Financial Times reported that BlackRock ( BLK ) -owned Global Infrastructure Partners is close to acquiring the utility group in a roughly $38 billion deal.

On the losing side, Enanta Pharmaceuticals ( ENTA ) stock was down more than 13% after the company said late Tuesday it has priced a $65 million public offering of common stock.