US pre-open: Stocks set for muted open with Apple and oil majors in focus

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futuers were pointing to a mixed open ahead of the bell on Friday as markets participants strap in for a new month of trading. As of 1300 BST, Dow Jones and S&P 500 futures were 0.11% and 0.12% firmer, respectively, while Nasdaq-100 futures had the index opening 0.18% softer.

The Dow closed 790.33 points higher on Thursday, more than reversing losses recorded in the previous session.

Tech giant Apple traded higher in pre-market action after issuing a stronger‑than‑expected revenue outlook for the current quarter, alongside fiscal second‑quarter earnings and sales that topped forecasts. Apple reported earnings per share of $2.01 each, ahead of the $1.95 expected, with revenue rising to $111.18bn versus consensus estimates of $109.66bn.

In terms of Friday's earnings, Exxon Mobil and Chevron posted sharply lower first‑quarter profits despite the recent surge in crude prices driven by the US and Israel's conflicy with Iran, with America's two largest oil firms reporting steep year‑on‑year declines in earnings. Exxon's net income fell 45%, while Chevron's dropped 36%, though both companies still managed to beat Wall Street expectations.

Colgate‑Palmolive posted an 8.4% rise in first‑quarter net sales to $5.3bn, slightly ahead of market expectations, while Moderna also beat forecasts for first‑quarter revenue, supported by stronger‑than‑expected international demand for its Covid‑19 vaccine, and Estée Lauder delivered better‑than‑expected third‑quarter results, reporting adjusted earnings of $0.91 per share against consensus of $0.65 on revenues rose to $3.71bn, up 5% year‑on‑year and marginally above forecasts.

On the macro front, S&P Global's April manufacturing PMI will be released at 1445 BST, while the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing PMI will follow at 1500 BST.







Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com