U.S. futures are all in positive territory Friday morning, following up a strong day of trading on Thursday.
World markets were also rising at the end of the week, with the Shanghai Composite climbing 1.7% and the Hang Seng gaining 0.82%. The Nikkei was the lone Asian market to fall Friday, closing the day 1.3% in the red.
In Europe, the FTSE 100 and CAC 40 were each rising 0.3% while the DAX was up 0.2%.
Energy prices continue to cooperate with the market rally, and looks ready to extend its winning streak to three straight sessions after starting the week off with two negative ones. Industry benchmark Brent crude for May delivery is up $0.67 to $42.21 per barrel while West Texas crude for April delivery is up $0.71 to $40.91. This is the fourth straight week that oil has closed in the green.
Shares of jeweler Tiffany & Co. (TIF) were climbing premarket after topping analysts' fourth-quarter top- and bottom-line expectations. The company reported adjusted earnings of $1.46 per share for the quarter.
Adobe Systems (ADBE) earned $0.66 in the previous quarter, beating estimates by $0.05 per share. The software company's stock was up over 7% in premarket trading.
Columbia Pipeline Group (CPGX) was spiking premarket after the company agreed to be purchased by TransCanada (TRP) for approximately $13 billion -- or $25.50 per CPGX share. The move comes after President Barack Obama blocked the transcontinental Keystone Pipeline from being built. TransCanada had been lobbying for the pipeline for seven years.
JPMorgan Chase (JPM) increased its stock buyback program by $1.88 billion. That total is in addition to the $6.4 billion still left on the buyback program it authorized last year.
Shares of FedEx (FDX) were down slightly premarket after a Thursday session that saw the package delivery company climb nearly 12% following the release of its latest quarterly results. The company topped analysts' top- and bottom-line expectations and upped the low end of its full-year guidance.
Finally, media company Viacom (VIAB) has been approached by nearly 40 companies interested in purchasing a minority stake in its Paramount Pictures film and TV studio, according to Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. Viacom has been shopping a stake in its movie studio division amid falling revenue.
