Investors Keeping a Close Eye on Inflation Data and Oil Company Earnings

U.S. futures surged on Friday morning following impressive earnings reports from tech giants Alphabet and Microsoft. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, announced its first cash dividend, leading to a more than 11 percent increase in pre-market trading. Microsoft also saw a nearly 4 percent jump after reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings.

This positive news comes after a rough day for the U.S. stock market, which was impacted by slowing growth and persistent inflation concerns. Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also faced a significant drop in shares, falling more than 10 percent due to plans to increase spending on artificial intelligence technology.

Investor enthusiasm for AI technology remains high, with companies like Alphabet and Amazon leading the way with significant investments and advancements in AI. These companies are seen as key players in the future of AI-driven technologies, with potential applications in healthcare, finance, and technology sectors.

Looking ahead, investors are eagerly awaiting core inflation data and quarterly earnings reports from oil giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron. Next week will bring a flurry of earnings reports, with a focus shifting towards consumer goods companies like Amazon and Apple. The upcoming week will be filled with earnings announcements from a wide range of companies, providing insight into the current state of the market and future trends in various industries.