U.S. stock futures rose on strong earnings and renewed investor enthusiasm for big technology companies.
Futures tied to the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 led markets, rising 0.5%, indicating the index may climb further after notching its third record high this year on Wednesday. Contracts tied to the broader S&P 500 rose 0.3%, and those linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.2%.
Railroad operator Union Pacific will post earnings before the opening bell. Chip giant Intel and International Business Machines are slated to announce quarterly results after markets close.
Investors are watching earnings closely to see if they support the strong run across markets in recent months. Many have bet on an economic recovery this year, as Covid-19 vaccinations ramp up, increasing prospects for future earnings.
Shares in regional bank KeyCorp rose 3.8% after it recorded higher revenue and a larger profit, as more activity in its consumer-mortgage and investment-banking businesses drove fees.
Read More: U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Tech Leads Charge