U.S. equity futures were higher late Thursday as investors parsed a string of strong corporate earnings released after the market close against continuing diplomatic uncertainty between Washington and Tehran. At 20:28 ET (00:28 GMT), S&P 500 Futures were up 0.3% at 7,484.75 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures rose 0.4% to 29,571.75 points, and Dow Jones Futures traded 0.2% higher at 50,480.0 points.
Earlier in the trading day, major U.S. benchmarks ended a volatile session with modest gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.6% to reach a record closing high. The S&P 500 advanced 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.1% as late-session hopes for diplomatic progress in the Middle East helped lift sentiment.
Investor caution persisted, however, after U.S. and Iranian officials acknowledged signs of progress in talks to reduce tensions while remaining sharply divided over central demands. Key points of contention cited by both sides included Tehran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and a proposed tolling mechanism for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important route for global oil shipments.
Iran’s Supreme Leader said Tehran would keep its enriched uranium reserves. The negotiating atmosphere was further clouded by disagreement over a suggested tolling arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that any such toll would scuttle the talks, saying, "No one in the world is in favor of the tolling system. It can’t happen." He added that "there’s some good signs" coming out of the discussions but cautioned against taking those signs as a guarantee of success.
Oil prices reacted to the diplomatic uncertainty, rebounding nearly 1.5% in Asian trading on Friday amid questions about whether the talks would ultimately yield an agreement.
Following the market close, a wave of corporate reports provided support to futures. Workday Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY) shares jumped as much as 11% in extended trading after the cloud finance and human-resources software provider delivered quarterly results that beat Wall Street expectations.
Video communications firm Zoom Communications (NASDAQ: ZM) climbed about 8% after reporting strong earnings and issuing favorable guidance. Discount retailer Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST) rose nearly 6% after beating profit expectations, reporting improved comparable-store sales and raising its full-year earnings forecast. In the gaming sector, Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ: TTWO) gained around 7% after reaffirming that Grand Theft Auto VI remains on track for a November release.
These after-hours moves helped lift sentiment in futures markets, even as geopolitical uncertainty and commodity-price sensitivity remained central concerns for investors. The market reaction blended cautious optimism about corporate performance with the recognition that progress in high-stakes diplomacy can be fragile and subject to sudden reversals.
Market context
Equity futures traded higher late in the session while the cash market finished with modest gains led by the Dow’s record close. Earnings beats and positive guidance from several large-cap companies provided fresh momentum, but the trajectory of oil prices and the broader market will likely remain linked to developments in the U.S.-Iran discussions.