Stock futures were pointing higher to end the week as bond yields retreated from 19-year highs and oil prices fell back below $100 a barrel.
Technology stocks, and artificial-intelligence names in particular, were making gains ahead of the open, while energy stocks were among those falling.
Akamai Technologies jumped 21% after the cloud infrastructure company announced an $11.6 billion deal with AI giant Anthropic for its services over the next seven years. It includes an option to expand the agreement by another $9 billion if more computing power is needed.
Chip stocks and other AI plays were also enjoying gains. Advanced Micro Devices rose 2.5% with the chip maker set to add to its 12.4% gain so far this week, in which it crossed the $1 trillion market cap for the first time. Intel was up 1.9%, Nvidia rose 0.8% and Marvell Technology climbed 2.2%.
Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, ConocoPhillips, Exxon and Chevron were all down more than 1% as Brent crude futures, the international oil benchmark, fell 1.6% to $98.55 a barrel.
Barry Diller's People Inc. jumped more than 8% following a Wall Street Journal report that MGM Resorts is discussing making a bid for the company. It would quickly turn the tables on Diller after People withdrew its own bid for MGM on Wednesday,
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