US pre-open: Futures rise as investors digest Big Tech earnings, geopolitical tensions

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futures were in the green prior to the open on Friday following another batch of Big Tech earnings overnight and a further escalation in tensions in the Middle East. As of 1230 BST, Dow Jones futures were up 0.63, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.46% and 1.19% firmer, respectively.

The Dow closed 613.92 points higher on Thursday, taking a bite out of heavy losses recorded in the previous session.

Futures had major indices extending that rally ahead of the bell as investors digested more Big Tech earnings from overnight, with Amazon reporting earnings after the close, with the company delivering its first $200bn quarter, driven by a sharp acceleration in AWS and advertising. AWS revenues rose 37%, its fastest growth in more than four years, while overall earnings hit $5.75 per share, more than triple analysts' expectations. Group revenues reached $200.6bn, ahead of forecasts, and advertising sales climbed 26% year on year to $19.8bn.

Elsewhere, Apple posted stronger‑than‑expected third‑quarter results, with revenues up 16.4% to $109.42bn, ahead of forecasts, as higher iPhone and MacBook sales helped lift performance across its hardware lines. Earnings came in at $2.02 per share, including an $0.11 benefit from US tariff refunds. iPhone revenues jumped 21.7% to $54.25bn, beating consensus. However, the stock traded lower in pre-market action after its services and Greater China sales came up short.

In terms of Friday's earnings, Colgate‑Palmolive posted 4.9% sales growth, 8% base business earnings per share growth, and reiterated its full‑year guidance, while Chevron posted record second-quarter net income of $12.1bn, or $6.11 per diluted share, driven by surging global oil prices, and ExxonMobil reported Q2 2026 adjusted earnings of $14.7bn, or $3.52 per share, falling slightly short of Wall Street estimates slightly by about $0.02 to $0.08 per share.

Elsewhere, Iran's army claimed that it had launched strikes on strategic US assets and military bases in both Kuwait and Bahrain, following Washington's latest attacks against the Islamic Republic.

On the macro front, July's Chicago purchasing managers index will be released at 1445 BST, while July's University of Michigan consumer sentient index will follow at 1500 BST.







Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com