Stock Markets May 29, 2026 08:01 AM

U.S. Futures Rise After Ceasefire Extension; Dell Leads Premarket Gains While Retail, Aerospace Names Slip

Macroeconomic calm around the Strait of Hormuz helps lift futures as corporate updates drive mixed moves across sectors

By Leila Farooq DELL COST GAP

U.S. stock futures were modestly higher Friday morning following reports that the U.S. and Iran agreed to extend a ceasefire and remove restrictions on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In premarket trading, Dell jumped after raising its full-year outlook, while peers and other corporate developments produced a range of outsized moves across retail, aerospace, software and biotech names.

U.S. Futures Rise After Ceasefire Extension; Dell Leads Premarket Gains While Retail, Aerospace Names Slip
DELL COST GAP

Key Points

  • U.S. and Iran reports of a ceasefire extension and lifted shipping restrictions helped lift U.S. futures modestly in early trade - this influenced broad market sentiment.
  • Dell raised its full-year profit and revenue outlook, pushing its shares higher and lifting peer hardware names such as Super Micro Computer and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
  • Corporate-specific developments drove sector dispersion: Gap cut annual sales expectations and slid, Costco beat third-quarter sales estimates but ticked down, IFF gained amid a potential sale of its food ingredients unit, Okta topped revenue estimates, Firefly announced a $576 million stock offering and Agios halted a blood disorder program after an underwhelming mid-stage trial.

U.S. equity futures opened higher on Friday after reports surfaced that the United States and Iran had reached an agreement to extend a ceasefire and to lift restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. By 06:55 ET (10:55 GMT), the Dow futures contract was roughly 101 points higher, up about 0.2%, S&P 500 futures had gained about 9 points, or 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 futures were up about 33 points, or 0.1%.

Market participants focused on several notable premarket movers driven by company-specific announcements and earnings updates.

Dell was a standout, with the PC maker's shares jumping after it raised both full-year profit and revenue guidance. The bullish update lifted other hardware names in premarket trading, with Super Micro Computer and Hewlett Packard Enterprise also trading sharply higher.

Gap shares moved sharply lower after the apparel retailer cut its annual sales forecast, a development that weighed on retail sector sentiment in early trade.

Costco ticked down despite reporting third-quarter sales that beat expectations, a modest move that contrasted with the stronger reaction seen in some other corporate reports.

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) traded up after reports suggested it is nearing a deal to sell its food ingredients business to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for more than $4 billion.

Okta rose in premarket action after the identity verification company posted first-quarter revenue that exceeded analyst estimates.

Firefly Aerospace fell more than 3% after announcing a $576 million stock offering, a transaction that coincided with downside pressure on the shares.

Agios Pharmaceuticals slipped after the company ended a blood disorder drug program following a mid-stage trial that did not demonstrate sufficient benefit.


Below are other market datapoints and movers referenced in early trade: the S&P 500 futures were up 0.1% and the Nasdaq 100 futures were higher by about 0.1%, reflecting a broadly positive premarket tone anchored by the geopolitical report and selective corporate catalysts.

Investors continued to parse company-level news across a range of sectors - technology hardware, retail, consumer products, aerospace, software and biotech - as firms reported results, revised guidance or announced strategic transactions.

Risks

  • Geopolitical developments remain a market factor - the reported ceasefire extension and shipping access changes affected futures, indicating continued sensitivity in sectors tied to global trade and energy.
  • Company-specific execution and strategic moves can produce sharp stock reactions - examples include Gap's lowered sales outlook, Firefly's $576 million stock offering and Agios's program termination, which each impacted their respective sector names.
  • Earnings and guidance divergence among retailers, hardware and biotech firms could increase short-term volatility as investors weigh mixed top-line results and program outcomes.

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