US equity futures edged higher on Friday, recouping only a small portion of the prior session’s declines as investors continued to digest the latest earnings releases and reassess the risk of higher interest rates. Futures on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 hovered just above the flatline, while Dow Jones Industrial Average contracts advanced about 150 points.
Crude oil and refined product prices eased but remained sharply higher on the week, as intensifying strikes between Iran and the United States disrupted tanker traffic through the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. US Treasury yields moved in tandem with the rise in energy prices, with part of the market now positioning for a potential Federal Reserve rate hike next week.
In corporate news, Intel shares rose about 2% in premarket trading after the company reported its strongest revenue growth in 17 years. By contrast, American Express and Verizon each fell roughly 2% after releasing their second-quarter results.
The Nasdaq 100 was on track to end the week modestly lower, weighed down by mounting concerns over potential AI-related overspending by hyperscalers. Since last Friday, Tesla has dropped 16%, Alphabet has declined 9%, and Meta has slid 7%.