U.S. stock futures edged higher on Friday amid optimism over easing tensions between the U.S. and China regarding trade, even as weaker-than-expected outlooks from Apple and Amazon created some drag.
As of 05:40 ET (09:40 GMT), Dow Jones Futures had advanced by 170 points, or 0.4%, S&P 500 Futures increased by 22 points, or 0.4%, and Nasdaq 100 Futures were up 45 points, or 0.2%.
Wall Street benchmarks kicked off the new month on a strong footing Thursday, buoyed by robust earnings reports from tech heavyweights Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT).
All three major indices are tracking toward their second consecutive weekly gain. The S&P 500 is set to climb 1.4% this week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has gained 1.6%, and the NASDAQ Composite is up by 1.9%.
China hints at possible trade discussions with the U.S.
On Friday, China’s commerce ministry stated that it was considering trade negotiations with the U.S., emphasizing that any discussions would need to be grounded in mutual respect and the elimination of one-sided tariffs.
The remarks followed recent U.S. indications of readiness to re-engage in trade talks. According to the ministry, Washington has made overtures through several channels to initiate discussions.
Global markets have been volatile this month amid concerns that an escalating trade conflict could tip the world economy into a downturn.
