US equity futures exhibited positive momentum on Friday as traders anticipated the release of the final set of earnings reports for the week and evaluated robust quarterly outcomes from significant market players. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose by 0.2%, while the Nasdaq experienced an increase of 0.4% in premarket trading.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a minor uptick of less than 0.1%. Notably, the majority of Asian and European stock exchanges mirrored this upward trend, suggesting a globally positive market sentiment. In particular, shares of Netflix advanced by 6.2% prior to the market opening, following the streaming giant's impressive third-quarter results that outshined market expectations with a substantial rise in new subscriber counts.
Similarly, Intuitive Surgical experienced a notable gain of 6.8%. This surge followed their announcement of better-than-anticipated third-quarter results, showcasing the resilience and growth potential of robotic surgical systems in today's healthcare landscape. A host of companies, including Procter & Gamble, American Express, and Schlumberger, are set to report their latest financial performance.
Fifth Third Bancorp, Regions Financial, Comerica, and Autoliv will also disclose their earnings before the opening bell, drawing attention from investors eager to understand the implications for their respective sectors. On the economic front, significant data releases are scheduled. The housing starts and permits report for September is set to be released at 8:30 am ET, providing crucial insights into the housing market's health.
Additionally, the weekly Baker Hughes report on the domestic oil-and-gas rig count will be published at 1 pm, shedding light on energy sector dynamics. Key speeches from Federal Reserve officials are also lined up, with Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic addressing the market at 9:30 am, followed by remarks at 12:30 pm.
Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari will deliver insights at 10 am, while Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller is slated to speak at 12:10 pm. These speeches are anticipated to influence market expectations surrounding monetary policy. Before the opening bell, bitcoin trading reflected a 1.5% increase, reaching $67,841, while West Texas Intermediate crude oil saw a slight decline of 0.6% at $70.28 per barrel.
Meanwhile, yields on 10-year Treasuries maintained stability at 4.1%, and gold prices increased by 0.7%, trading at $2,726 an ounce. The movements in these asset classes highlight the ongoing volatility and investor sentiment in the current economic climate..