US equity indexes traded mixed as Intel's (INTC) blowout Q1 results lifted technology, and crude oil futures retreated following reports that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will arrive in Pakistan late Friday for peace talks.
The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1% to 24,689.1, with the S&P 500 up 0.4% to 7,139.9, with semiconductor manufacturers among the top gainers. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, declined 0.4% to 49,141.5.
Intel shares rose 24%, the top gainer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue. The chipmaker issued a fiscal Q2 outlook above market expectations. Nvidia (NVDA), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Arm Holdings (ARM) were among the leaders across both indexes.
Araghchi, the main mediator between Tehran and Washington, is set to arrive in Islamabad with a small delegation, Pakistani government sources and an Iranian source told CNN.
Pakistani mediators expect a second round of talks between the US and Iran, government sources told the news agency. A US logistics and security team is present in Islamabad to facilitate the negotiation process, according to the sources.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 0.3% to $95.55, while Brent crude futures rose 0.6% to $105.72 after midday. Both WTI and Brent rose more than 1.5% each earlier in the session.
Separately, the Justice Department is closing a probe relating to cost overruns at the Federal Reserve, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro was cited as saying Friday in multiple news reports.