United States equity futures were little changed on Thursday night (Friday AEST) as investors tracked developments in the Middle East and the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
By 10 am AEST (12 am GMT), Dow futures and Nasdaq 100 futures were trading near the flatline, while S&P 500 futures edged up 0.1%.
In after-hours trade, Dell Technologies surged 39.1% after the laptop maker lifted its full-year guidance and reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings.
Meanwhile, American Eagle Outfitters fell 12.2% after comparable sales at its flagship American Eagle brand declined 2% in the first quarter.
The muted futures session followed a record-setting day on Wall Street, where all three major U.S. benchmarks closed at fresh highs, led by gains in technology stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, the S&P 500 rose 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.9%.
Markets were boosted after reports that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had agreed on a draft 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and open further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, pending final approval from President Donald Trump.
Despite geopolitical uncertainty, the rally has left major indexes on track for a positive week. The Nasdaq is leading gains with more than 2% for the week, while the S&P 500 has advanced over 1% and the Dow is up less than 1%.
Friday marks the final trading session of May, with all three benchmarks poised for monthly gains. The S&P 500 is up nearly 5% for the month, the Dow is set for a 2% rise, and the Nasdaq is outperforming with an 8% gain.
Looking ahead, market participants will be monitoring economic data releases, including preliminary wholesale inventories for April and the Chicago PMI for May, which provides insight into regional manufacturing and service sector activity.
