U.S. stock index futures traded solidly higher in the pre-market on Thursday as Wall Street tried to build on its strong performance from the previous session.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gained 68 points, or 0.3%, Thursday to 27,711
Futures for the S&P 500 added 7.25 points, or 0.2%, at 3,118.25.
The NASDAQ Composite tacked on 25.75 points, or 0.3%, to 8,321.
Kroger Company and Brown Forman are among the companies reporting earnings Thursday.
Investors monitored the latest developments around U.S.-China trade talks.
Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said Thursday the two sides remain in close communications regarding trade. Gao did not, however, give any details on how the negotiations were proceeding. He added that China “believes if both sides reach a phase-one agreement, relevant tariffs must be lowered.”
Gao’s comments came after Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing sources, that both countries were inching closer to securing an agreement on the amount of tariffs that would be rolled back in a limited trade deal. President Donald Trump also said Wednesday that he believed trade talks with Beijing were going “very well.”
The report, along with Trump’s comment lifted sentiment around trade and helped the major averages snap a three-day losing streak.
Overseas, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 regained 0.7% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index restored 0.6%.
Oil prices sprang up 25 cents at $58.68 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices took on $3.30 to $1,483/50 U.S. an ounce.