U.S. Stock Futures Show Morning Gains
On Friday morning, U.S. stock futures experienced an uptick. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closed out April with significant new highs, showing stronger performances than expected.
S&P 500 futures noted an increase of 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures saw a modest rise of 0.12%. Additionally, futures related to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained about 61 points, or roughly 0.12%.
In extended trading on Thursday, shares of Apple surged over 2%. The tech giant announced increased profits and sales in its second quarter, although iPhone sales fell short of forecasts for the second time in three quarters.
The Dow experienced considerable movement during Thursday’s trading session, appreciating by 790.33 points, or 1.62%. The S&P 500 rose by 1.02%, closing above 7,200 for the first time ever, marking a notable achievement. The Nasdaq also climbed by 0.89%. Both indexes reached new closing highs, showcasing their strongest monthly performances since 2020, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq up 10.4% and 15.3%, respectively, for April. The Dow gained 7.1% during the month, its best showing since November 2024.
The upswing in stock prices since the year’s onset can be attributed to robust first-quarter results and the hope of easing tensions in the Middle East. Despite a dip caused by the outbreak of conflict between the U.S. and Iran, all three indexes are currently trading well above their initial 2026 levels.
Venu Krishna, head of U.S. equity strategy at Barclays, expressed optimism regarding the future market trajectory. He noted that the strong economic growth outlook and untapped opportunities in tech could sustain market rallies.
“Things are looking promising, so we remain hopeful,” he commented on CNBC’s “Closing Bell: Overtime.” He also mentioned that the rapid pace of recovery might lead to a short-term lull, but anticipates a strong future direction.
Several stocks, including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, AutoNation, Colgate-Palmolive, Estee Lauder, Lazard, Moderna, and CBOE Global Markets, are scheduled to report their earnings before the market opens on Friday. Traders will also be watching for April’s manufacturing data release.
