US stock futures ticked higher early Friday after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped from record highs in the previous session. Investors are recalibrating expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts amid sticky inflation concerns and tracking the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, now entering its third week. Dow futures gained 0.2%, while the 10-year Treasury yield steadied near 4.47%. Market sentiment remains cautious as traders await key inflation data and fresh economic indicators to gauge policy direction.