U.S. Stock Futures Rise on Apple Gains, Inflation Data in Focus

U.S. stock index futures traded higher on Friday, fueled by Apple's premarket surge.

Apple Drives Premarket Gains

Apple shares soared 3.4% in premarket trading after reporting strong earnings on Thursday. The company forecast robust sales growth, signaling a potential recovery from its recent iPhone sales slump.

Inflation Data in Spotlight

Investors await the release of the December Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index at 8:30 a.m. ET. Headline inflation is anticipated to rise 0.3% month-over-month and 2.6% annually, while the core PCE index, excluding volatile food and energy components, is expected to climb 0.2%.

Company Earnings

Several major companies, including Chevron and Exxon Mobil, report quarterly earnings before the bell on Friday.

Index Performance

As of 04:51 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 0.29%, S&P 500 E-minis had gained 0.4%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis had climbed 0.71%. Despite this week's volatility, all three major indexes are poised for monthly gains.

Tech Rout

Earlier this week, the tech sector suffered a setback following a breakthrough in AI models, triggering a decline in AI-related stocks. Microsoft fell sharply on Thursday after disappointing cloud computing growth forecasts.

Global Market Vigilance

Global markets remain alert to developments surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada.

Other Notable Movers

Deckers Outdoor declined 14.6% after its annual sales forecast missed expectations. Walgreens Boots Alliance dropped 10.5% after suspending its quarterly cash dividend.