April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures inched higher on Thursday as investors grew more confident that the worst of the Middle East conflict had passed, while a wave of solid earnings allayed concerns about the economy.
Although no agreement to end hostilities involving Iran has been reached, hopes of diplomatic progress have lifted sentiment.
The benchmark S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs Wednesday, signaling renewed appetite for risk assets if diplomacy remains on track.
"Markets have
learned to anticipate reversals after aggressive policy threats. That is not complacency so much as adaptation," said Lisa Shalett, chief investment officer at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.
At 04:42 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were flat, U.S. S&P 500 E-minis rose 6 points, or nearly 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis gained 57.25 points, or 0.2%.
Sentiment also drew support after a senior Israeli official said Israel's cabinet had met on Wednesday to discuss a possible ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon.
Such a ceasefire could remove a key obstacle to efforts to secure a broader peace agreement. President Donald Trump has also indicated Washington could yet reach a deal with Tehran.
However, equities remain vulnerable if diplomacy gives way to renewed escalation.
"Ongoing negotiations may bring more reversals and contradictory news, keeping trading conditions perilous," Shalett said.
RESULTS STEER SENTIMENT
Market moves could also become more idiosyncratic as the earnings season gathers pace, offering fresh catalysts for investors.
U.S. beverages giant PepsiCo is scheduled to report quarterly results, alongside Travelers, Charles Schwab and a host of other companies. Netflix is also due to report after the markets close.
PepsiCo and Netflix dipped 0.2% each in premarket trading, while Schwab slipped 0.4%.
Most banks that reported earnings so far this week surpassed estimates and said that the consumer remains financially healthy, alleviating concerns about the growth engine of the U.S. economy.
"With bets placed that the war has passed peak escalation and geopolitical risks are falling, investors have decided they don't want to miss out on a slice of this earnings growth," said Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.
"The move in major U.S. indices this month has been nothing short of remarkable. The risk from here is that the bar is set too high and investors are paying for earnings that may not materialize."
Beaten-down sectors such as tech and software stocks have regained their footing this week. Small caps are also gaining ground, with the Russell 2000 index about 0.8% from its intraday record high.
Big movers in the premarket session included Voyager Technologies, which rose 7.9% after NASA signed an order for the company to conduct the seventh private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, the company's first selection for such a mission.
Sneaker maker Allbirds slumped 34.2% after rising nearly sevenfold in the previous session on enthusiasm about its pivot to artificial intelligence.
(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
