09:21 AM EDT, 10/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were flat ahead of Friday's opening bell, stabilizing after a sell-off in the previous session driven by credit concerns at regional banks.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.1% higher, S&P 500 futures were down 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.3% lower.

The health of the banking sector came under scrutiny Thursday after Western Alliance Bancorp ( WAL ). (WAL) and Zions Bancorp. (ZION) disclosed bad loans, triggering losses across major equity indices.

Oil prices higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.2% at $61.20 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.3% higher at $57.63 per barrel.

The federal agency bulletins on housing starts and permits, and import and export prices are suspended.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.4% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 2.5% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 2% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.9%, and Germany's DAX index was 1.4% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Western Alliance Bancorp ( WAL ). shares were 3.6% higher pre-bell. Zions Bancorp. stock was up 4%. American Express ( AXP ) shares were 1.8% higher after the company reported higher Q3 earnings and revenue and raised its 2025 guidance.

On the losing side, Sadot Group ( SDOT ) stock was down 21%, a day after the company said in a Form 8-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that it has secured deals to sell about $538,600 worth of common shares to certain accredited investors.