U.S. stock index futures extended gains after a stronger-than-expected jobs report calmed worries over the health of the labor market amid tensions of a global trade war. A Labor Department report showed nonfarm payrolls increased 177,

The S&P 500 could be on its way to marking its ninth positive day after the recent jobs report lifted the stock market once more. Buying pressure due to cooling inflation data two days ago kept the stock market in positive territory despite GDP declining by 0.

Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato drew attention by mentioning that the country’s more than $1.1 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds could potentially be a “card on the table” in negotiations with Washington over Trump’s steep tariffs on autos and other imports.

European and Asian markets rose on Friday, tracking Wall Street gains, as China said it was considering a US offer to negotiate steep tariffs.

The Magnificent Seven is riding to the rescue once again. Two of the handful of huge technology companies that drove market gains in 2023 and 2024, posted earnings that smashed expectations after the bell on Wednesday.

Stock futures indicated a higher start for the open, with Dow Industrials up nearly 0.5%, S&P stock futures up 1.0% and Nasdaq futures gaining 1.4%, while most European markets were closed.

U.S. stock index futures were higher after the closing bell on Wednesday, despite Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) falling. Read more here.