U.S. stock futures are pointing higher before the first trading session of the year after markets sagged to end a strong 2024; a Tesla (TSLA) Cybertruck explodes outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, and the EV maker is expected to report fourth-quarter delivery figures today; Nvidia (NVDA) shares are higher in premarket trading as Magnificent Seven stocks look strong heading into the new year; and MicroStrategy (MSTR) shares are rebounding as bitcoin (BTCUSD) rises to trade at more than $96,500. Here's what investors need to know today.

1. Analysts Expecting More Stock Market Gains in New Year

Coming off a year in which the Nasdaq rose 29%, the S&P 500 posted gains of 23%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 13%, analysts are optimistic that U.S equities will continue to rise in 2025, though perhaps not as robustly as 2024. Artificial intelligence (AI) developments are expected to continue to drive market trends, while small-cap and mid-cap stocks are forecasted to perform better in the coming year.

2. US Stock Futures Point Higher to Start 2025 Trading

U.S. stock futures are pointing higher after markets were closed Wednesday for New Year's Day. Nasdaq futures are up 1.2%, while S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are moving higher by slightly smaller percentages after each ended 2024 trading on a down note. Yields on the 10-year Treasury note are lower. Oil and gold futures are higher. Investors also are watching for weekly jobless claims and construction spending data today.

3. Tesla Cybertruck Explodes in Las Vegas Outside Trump Hotel

Police are investigating yesterday's explosion of a Tesla (TSLA) Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas yesterday that killed the driver and injured seven others. Today, the electric vehicle (EV) maker is expected to release fourth-quarter deliveries data, with analysts expecting a record number of units, albeit below the company's full-year forecast. Tesla shares are up 1.5% in premarket trading after having fallen 12.6% over the last four sessions.

4. Magnificent Seven Stocks Higher to Start Year

The Magnificent Seven group of tech stocks is expected to again lead markets in 2025, though perhaps not at the same pace as in past years. Goldman Sachs analysts expected that together Apple (AAPL), Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta (META), and Tesla will outpace the remaining 493 stocks in the S&P 500 by 7 percentage points this year, the narrowest margin in seven years. Shares of Nvidia, the group's leader in 2024, are up 1.6% in premarket trading, while those of the other six also are higher.

5. Rising Bitcoin Lifts MicroStrategy, Other Crypto-Related Stocks

Bitcoin (BTCUSD) is surging more than 2% to trade above $96,500, helping send stocks of cryptocurrency-related companies higher. Shares of bitcoin buyer MicroStrategy (MSTR) are 4% higher in premarket trading as the software firm comes off of a four-session stretch in which shares dropped by 19%. Shares of bitcoin miners Riot Platforms (RIOT) and Mara Holdings (MARA) and crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) are up nearly 4% in early trading.