U.S. futures mixed after ceasefire extension, Intel jumps

U.S. stock futures were uneven early Friday, April 24, 2026, as investors weighed a geopolitical update alongside a major after-hours earnings move in the technology sector. President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a development that fed into broader risk sentiment at the start of the session. At the same time, a sharp rise in Intel shares after its quarterly results helped support parts of the market tied to growth and semiconductors.

In premarket trading, futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 114 points, or 0.23%. S&P 500 futures hovered near unchanged, while Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.4%. The split reflected a market trying to balance macro and geopolitical headlines with company-specific catalysts, particularly in large-cap technology.

The early-Friday positioning followed a weaker close on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite ended the day lower, down 0.4% and 0.9% respectively, even after each index set new intraday highs. The Nasdaq’s decline was described as its largest one-day drop in nearly a month, underscoring how quickly momentum can shift when investors reassess valuations and near-term catalysts.

After the bell, Intel became the focal point for equity traders. The chipmaker’s shares jumped 19% in post-market action after it reported first-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations and delivered an upbeat outlook for the current quarter. The move provided a counterweight to broader caution and reinforced the market’s attention on semiconductors as a key driver of index-level performance.

Strength in the chip space was also reflected in sector tracking. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) logged its 17th straight positive session, according to the data cited, extending a run that has kept semiconductors in focus for both institutional and retail investors. With major indexes sensitive to technology leadership, large swings in chip-related names can influence broader market direction even when other sectors are mixed.

Beyond earnings, traders continued to track Middle East risks, with attention on the Strait of Hormuz. The ceasefire extension between Israel and Lebanon was one element in a wider set of regional developments that markets monitor for potential spillovers into energy, shipping, and global risk appetite. The session also kept an eye on the next wave of corporate results, including upcoming reports from Procter & Gamble and Norfolk Southern.