May 1, 2026
Wall Street is heading into Friday on solid footing, with futures pointing modestly higher after stocks closed April with their best monthly performance in years. But underneath the positive numbers, several big earnings stories — and a geopolitical deadline quietly passed — are keeping investors on edge.
S&P 500 futures rose 0.13% in early trading Friday, while Dow Jones futures added about 102 points. Nasdaq 100 futures were roughly flat. The gains follow a strong Thursday session in which the S&P 500 closed above 7,200 for the first time ever, rising 1.02%. The Dow surged 790 points, and the Nasdaq climbed 0.89%. 
For the month of April, the S&P 500 gained 10.4% and the Nasdaq jumped 15.3% — both posting their strongest monthly performances since 2020. The Dow added 7.1%, its best month since November 2024. 
Apple is the morning’s biggest story. Shares rose nearly 3% in premarket trading after the company posted fiscal second-quarter earnings of $2.01 per share on revenue of $111.18 billion, topping analyst expectations. iPhone revenue, however, missed estimates for the second time in three quarters. 
Twilio is another bright spot. Shares surged more than 20% after the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter results, issued second-quarter guidance above estimates, and raised its full-year sales outlook. 
Roblox tells a different story. The gaming platform’s stock dropped more than 21% after the company cut its full-year bookings outlook to between $7.33 billion and $7.60 billion — well below the $8.13 billion Wall Street had expected. 
On bonds, the 10-year Treasury yield stands at 4.39% and the two-year at 3.89%. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold rates steady at its June meeting. CME FedWatch data shows markets pricing in virtually no chance of a rate move. 
On the geopolitical front, the Trump administration quietly passed a congressional deadline under the War Powers Resolution without withdrawing troops from Iran. President Trump said he is sticking with a naval blockade of Iranian ports, keeping pressure on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei signaled his government has no plans to give up its nuclear or missile programs, dimming hopes for a near-term deal. 
Oil is reflecting that uncertainty. Brent crude for July rose above $111 a barrel Friday, while West Texas Intermediate was near $105 — up 12% for the week. 
Venu Krishna, head of U.S. equity strategy at Barclays, said the market story remains solid but warned that the pace of the recent rally leaves room for a pullback. “The pace of this recovery has been so strong in such a short period of time, it does leave some potential for a little bit of a breather,” he said. 
Investors are also watching earnings from Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Moderna before Friday’s open.
JBizNews Desk
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