U.S. stock futures were modestly higher on Thursday morning, with investors taking comfort from the signing of an interim Middle East peace deal that helped temper concerns stemming from the Federal Reserve's continued hawkish messaging.
By 0750 ET (11:50 GMT), futures were trading with the following moves: Dow futures up 0.12%, S&P 500 futures ahead 0.7% and Nasdaq 100 futures up 1.24%. Technology-oriented names were among the brightest spots in premarket activity, while market participants also digested a string of corporate announcements spanning guidance adjustments, executive departures, strategic deals and clinical trial outcomes.
Notable premarket stock movers
- Accenture plc (ACN): Shares plunged more than 11% after the consulting firm lowered the upper bound of its annual revenue growth forecast, a move the company said reflected continued client caution on discretionary technology consulting work. The company also disclosed a series of cybersecurity acquisitions, including taking a majority stake in Dragos.
- Pfizer Inc (PFE): The drugmaker slipped 1.7% after announcing that Chief Financial Officer Dave Denton will step down and depart the company in August to pursue an opportunity outside the pharmaceutical industry.
- Oklo Inc (OKLO): The advanced nuclear technology company gained 2% after signing a letter of intent with Centrus Energy for future supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium to support its planned Aurora powerhouse deployment in Ohio. The companies expect deliveries to begin in 2029.
- FreeCast Inc A (CAST): Shares surged 170% following an announcement of a reseller agreement for Starlink Business services. Under the arrangement, FreeCast can offer enterprise satellite broadband connectivity alongside its existing streaming media and platform services.
- Novocure Ltd (NVCR): The cancer-therapy company fell 10% after reporting that its Phase 3 TRIDENT study did not meet the primary endpoint of improving overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
The premarket snapshot showed markets responding to a combination of geopolitical developments and company-specific headlines. Technology stocks outperformed in early trade, but notable weakness in select healthcare and consulting names underscored the continued sensitivity of equities to both clinical outcomes and guidance revisions.
Investors will likely continue to monitor how shifts in geopolitical risk perceptions interact with central bank communications and corporate updates as trading progresses through the day.