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U.S. stock index futures traded with little movement on Thursday evening following a second consecutive session of record-breaking gains for major benchmark indexes. Improved geopolitical sentiment and easing Middle East tensions continued to fuel investor confidence and support risk appetite across global markets.
S&P 500 futures edged up 0.1% to 7,082.75 points, Nasdaq 100 futures remained relatively flat at 26,479.0, and Dow Jones futures gained 0.2% to reach 48,841.0 points in after-hours trading. During the regular session, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed at all-time highs for the second day in a row, with the Nasdaq extending a remarkable 12-session winning streak — its longest since 2009.
Market optimism was largely driven by progress on the geopolitical front. Israel reached a temporary ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, expected to hold for approximately 10 days, while U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that American and Iranian officials could resume diplomatic talks over the weekend. These developments raised hopes for broader regional de-escalation, though elevated oil prices due to continued disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz kept gains in check.
On the economic data front, U.S. jobless claims declined more than anticipated, reinforcing the resilience of the American labor market and lending further support to equities.
Corporate earnings also drove notable market moves. PepsiCo shares climbed over 2% on stronger-than-expected quarterly results, boosted by international demand and pricing power. In contrast, Abbott Laboratories dropped 6% after lowering its full-year profit forecast, and Charles Schwab fell more than 7% despite beating earnings estimates due to a lack of clear forward guidance.
After the closing bell, Netflix reported solid first-quarter results but underwhelmed investors with its outlook, sending shares down over 9% in extended trading following a weaker-than-expected second-quarter earnings forecast and full-year guidance that marginally missed Wall Street projections.
