TLDR
- Apple shares jumped 3% in premarket after beating quarterly earnings estimates
- Dow futures rose 0.3%, S&P 500 futures up 0.2%, Nasdaq 100 futures slightly lower
- Moderna stock surged 7% premarket on stronger-than-expected COVID vaccine sales overseas
- Bitcoin is climbing while Treasury yields rise and the dollar gains 0.2%
- U.S.-Iran tensions are pushing oil above $100 a barrel and boosting gold and the dollar
U.S. stock futures pointed mostly higher on Friday morning as a strong earnings season continued to support markets. The Dow and S&P 500 futures were both in positive territory, though Nasdaq 100 futures dipped slightly.
Apple shares rose around 3% before the opening bell after the company posted quarterly results that beat Wall Street expectations. The result added to a run of strong reports from major tech companies this week.
Moderna shares jumped 7% in premarket trading. The biotech company’s revenue topped analyst estimates, driven by better-than-expected sales of its COVID vaccine in overseas markets.
Wall Street closed out April on a strong note. The three major U.S. indexes — the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq — finished their best month since 2020 and now sit above where they started the year.
The S&P 500 closed at a record high on Thursday. Futures on Friday pointed to a modest extension of those gains at the open.
Earnings Season Driving Optimism
Investor confidence has been lifted by a string of solid results from large tech companies, often called the “Magnificent Seven.” Strong earnings from this group have fed optimism around artificial intelligence spending.
Results from Exxon Mobil and Chevron are expected later in the day, with energy stocks in focus given rising oil prices.
Treasury yields moved higher on Friday morning. The dollar index rose 0.2% to 98.217, partly due to demand for safe-haven assets tied to Middle East tensions.
Iran Conflict Keeps Oil and Gold Elevated
Oil prices remained above $100 a barrel. The U.S. and Iran have not reached a deal, and President Trump faces a Friday deadline to end the conflict or make the case to Congress to extend it.
Iran warned the U.S. on Thursday against potential military strikes after reports that Washington was considering fresh action to break the negotiating deadlock.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷 CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper just reportedly briefed Trump in the Situation Room on the potential "final blow" to Iran…
Per Fox News, the briefing covered strikes on remaining Iranian military assets, leadership, and infrastructure.
Three target categories that,… https://t.co/F32UwfKqfh pic.twitter.com/clvbbU9Pza
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 1, 2026
Gold prices also moved higher as investors sought safety. Despite this ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, U.S. stock markets have recovered sharply from earlier volatility in 2026.
Bitcoin was climbing on Friday morning alongside rising Treasury yields and a stronger dollar, an unusual combination that traders were watching closely.
Reddit, Roblox, Atlassian, Sandisk, and Western Digital were among the other stocks being watched as active movers in Friday’s session.
Apple’s earnings report was the headline event of the morning, with shares adding to gains seen across the tech sector this week.
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