U.S. equity futures posted moderate gains early Thursday, signaling a continuation of the market’s record rally. Investor optimism was fueled by potential progress toward resolving the U.S.-Iran conflict and by expectations that earnings driven by artificial intelligence would continue to support stock growth.
At 4:23 p.m. (Bangkok Time), S&P 500 futures up 0.07%, while Nasdaq 100 futures and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures both gained 0.05%.
In the previous day’s session, the S&P 500 notched a 1.46% gain, and the Nasdaq Composite added 2.02%. Both major benchmarks achieved fresh all-time highs, both during the trading day and at close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also advanced, climbing by 612.34 points, or 1.24%.
Reports indicated that Iran is reviewing a U.S. proposal intended to bring an end to the conflict in the region, now in its tenth week, with a response expected as early as Thursday. Indications of movement towards an agreement contributed to declines in oil prices, pushing crude below the $100-per-barrel mark. This development, coupled with reduced worries over inflation, helped support a rally in gold.
Strong earnings across the technology sector helped sustain optimism among market participants, reflecting continued confidence in businesses linked to artificial intelligence. Despite this supportive backdrop, Arm Holdings experienced premarket losses. The company’s shares retreated after supply issues surfaced, offsetting earlier gains prompted by its robust revenue projections.
Thursday’s corporate earnings releases include financial results from McDonald’s, Shake Shack, and Papa John’s, among others, setting the stage for another active day in earnings news.
Labor reports are also in focus as the week continues. Scheduled for release Thursday are Challenger’s April layoff figures, closely watched for indications of artificial intelligence’s impact on employment trends. Weekly jobless claims data will also be released, ahead of Friday’s key monthly employment report.
