US pre-open: Futures have Santa Claus rally extending another day
US futures were pointing to some early gains in the year's third-to-last session as US-China trade news remained firmly in focus.
As of 1230 GMT, Dow futures were up 0.32%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures were ahead 0.25% and 0.40%, respectively.
The Dow closed 105.94 points higher on Thursday as US stocks saw out the first session back from the Christmas break on a positive note. The tech-heavy Nasdaq also topped the 9,000 mark for the first time in history on Boxing Day.
While Friday looked set to be a quiet day in terms of headlines, market participants were still mulling over news from the previous session that the Chinese Commerce Ministry was in contact with the US regarding the signing of their initial trade deal.
Earlier in the week, Donald Trump said the deal was "getting done", adding that there would be a signing ceremony with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The deal is reportedly in the process of being translated, with the two economic superpowers hoping to sign the dotted line in January.
With China in mind, data released overnight showed a solid rebound for industrial profits for the Asian nation - further boosting sentiment.
Friday will also mark the third day of the aptly titled "Santa Claus rally" period.
No economic data or earnings were scheduled for release on Friday.