By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - U.S. stock future traded slightly higher in early APAC trade on Friday, extending gains in the previous session as investors cheered better-than-expected jobless claims data, while a jump in crude oil prices boosted energy stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 131.29 points or 0.25% to 35443.83, the S&P 500 climbed 12.84 points or 0.28% to 4536.94, posting a fresh all time high, while the NASDAQ Composite also rose 21.8 points or 0.14% to a record close of 15331.18. For the week, The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite have risen 0.5% and 1.08% respectively, while the Dow eased 0.15%.
Among stocks, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE:COG) and Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) were the largest risers, up 6.7% and 5.98% respectively as crude prices jumped 2% overnight on amid declines in U.S. inventories and a weaker US Dollar. Meantime, Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) added 2.44% and Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) gained 2.09%.
Investors are now looking ahead to August’s nonfarm payrolls report set to be released later in the session for any clues about how Federal Reserve policymakers will proceed with proposed asset tapering measures.