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Corporate Earnings, Geopolitics Undergird Wall Street Pre-Bell; Asia, Europe Up

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Wall Street futures were edging higher pre-bell Thursday after media reports that Tehran and Washington are considering a two-week extension of their Persian Gulf ceasefire, otherwise set to expire on Tuesday.

Tech issues strengthened after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) posted higher Q1 earnings and net revenue.

In the futures, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones were all marginally higher pre-bell.

Asian exchanges traded mostly higher overnight, while European bourses tracked moderately north midday on the continent.

In earnings news, Bank of New York Mellon (BK) shares were up 0.6% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.

PepsiCo (PEP) stock was up 0.7% pre-bell after the company posted higher fiscal Q1 core earnings and revenue.

On the economic calendar is the weekly jobless claims report, and the April Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index, at 8:30 am ET.

The industrial production report for March is due at 9:15 am, and the weekly EIA natural gas report 10:30 am.

Federal Reserve New York President John Williams and Governor Stephen Miran are slated to speak on Thursday.

In premarket activity, Bitcoin traded at $74,460, West Texas Intermediate crude oil traded at $92.38, and 10-year US Treasuries offered 4.27%. Spot gold commanded $4,809 an ounce.

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