Market Overview
U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Friday, with S&P 500 futures falling 0.1% to 7,535 points and Nasdaq 100 futures slipping 0.4% to 29,820 points by 05:52 ET, while Dow Jones futures were flat at 52,810 points.
Equity Performance
The regular trading session saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise 0.3%, the S&P 500 gain 0.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite climb 1.3%, recapturing losses from earlier weekly pullbacks. Technology shares led the rally; the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index advanced roughly 3% for a second consecutive session, reflecting strong institutional buying.
SK Hynix Listing Catalyst
Investors were drawn to semiconductor stocks ahead of South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix’s historic $26.5 billion overseas listing on the Nasdaq, prompting aggressive purchases of discounted hardware and AI‑infrastructure companies.
Geopolitical Developments
U.S. President Donald Trump reported that Iran had initiated contact to negotiate a new deal, raising hopes of de‑escalation in the Middle East. The comment eased concerns over a broader Persian Gulf conflict and helped pull oil prices down from multi‑month highs.
Macro Data
Weekly U.S. data showed initial jobless claims slipping to 215,000, indicating a resilient labour market. Federal Reserve minutes reiterated officials’ focus on core‑inflation risks and reinforced expectations that interest rates will remain elevated for an extended period.
Outlook
With macro variables stabilising, market participants are turning attention to the upcoming second‑quarter earnings season, which begins next week with major U.S. banking conglomerates slated to report.