U.S. stock index futures extended gains on Friday after data showed a closely watched measure of inflation cooled in May, offering fresh evidence of easing price pressures due to the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes.
A Commerce Department report showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, considered to be the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, rose 3.8% in May, on an annual basis from 4.3% last month.
Excluding volatile food and energy components, the PCE price index rose 4.6% in May on an annual basis from 4.7% in the previous month. Economists polled by Reuters expected core rates to remain steady at 4.7%.
Market Snapshot
At 8:41 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were up 146 points, or 0.42%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 26.5 points, or 0.6%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 140.25 points, or 0.93%.
Pre-Market Movers
Nike — Shares dropped nearly 3% following the sports apparel giant reported an earnings miss for the first time in three years. Nike’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings were 66 cents per share, versus the 67 cents consensus estimate, per Refinitiv. However, revenue topped expectations.
Apple — Apple’s market cap topped $3 trillion during premarket trading on Friday, passing the $190.73 share price required to hit the milestone. Apple was the first company to hit a $3 trillion market cap during intraday trading in Jan. 2022, but it failed to close at that level. It has another shot to do that on Friday.
Carnival — Shares of the cruise line rose 3% in premarket trading after Jefferies upgraded Carnival to buy from hold. Jefferies cited changes during the first year new CEO Josh Weinstein’s tenure and improving leverage as reasons to be optimistic about the stock.
Savers Value Village — Shares slipped 2% in the premarket, after jumping 27% during their first day of trading Thursday. The largest for-profit thrift operator in the U.S. priced shares at $18 and closed at $22.91.
Dominion Energy — Shares fell nearly 2% after the company revised its second-quarter operating earnings guidance range to 44 cents to 50 cents a share, down from 58 cents to 68 cents per share. Dominion Energy blamed historically mild weather and unplanned outages at the Millstone Power Station.
Constellation Brands — The Corona and Pacifico owner slipped 1.6% despite reporting an earnings beat. First-quarter adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.91, topping the $2.83 expected from analysts, per StreetAccount. Revenue was $2.52 billion, versus the $2.47 billion expected.
Freyr Battery — The stock popped another 5% in premarket trading, following an 11% gain on Thursday. The company was upgraded to overweight from equal weight by Morgan Stanley on Thursday.
Market News
Jerome Powell Says Next Phase of Rate Rises Will Be Harder to Predict
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said it made sense to continue slowing the pace of interest rate increases as officials try to find the level that will restrain economic activity and inflation without causing unnecessary weakness.
The Fed raised interest rates most recently in May to a range between 5% and 5.25%, a 16-year high. Powell has signaled that officials are prepared to raise rates at the Fed’s July 25-26 meeting after holding them steady at their meeting earlier this month.
Volkswagen in Talks With Tesla to Adopt Its Charging Standard
Volkswagen is in talks with Tesla to adopt its North American Charging Standard (NACS), joining a slew of automakers and charging equipment makers that are choosing the technology.
"Volkswagen Group and its brands are currently evaluating the implementation of the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its North American customers," the German automaker said.
AMC Backstabbed Retail Investors, Settlement Opponent Tells Court
AMC has said it is burning cash at an unsustainable rate and cautioned that an inability to raise capital could force the company into bankruptcy.
Rose Izzo, a Delaware resident who first invested in AMC in 2021, objected to the deal.
Dutch curb chip equipment exports amid US pressure
The Dutch government on Friday announced new rules restricting exports of certain advanced semiconductor equipment, a move that comes amid U.S. pressure on its allies to curb sales of high-tech components to China.
"We have taken this step in the interest of our national security" said Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher, adding such equipment may have military applications.