US stock futures were pointing to gains Friday with technology companies leading the way in a bright start to 2026.
These stocks were poised to make moves Friday:
Tesla gained 2.5% in premarket trading. The electric-vehicle maker expected to release fourth-quarter delivery figures on Friday. The company-compiled consensus of 20 brokers predicts deliveries of 422,850 vehicles.
U.S.-listed shares of NIO rose 5.7% after the Chinese EV maker delivered 48,135 vehicles in December, up 55% from a year earlier. XPeng was up 1.7% as deliveries last month rose 2% and jumped 126% in 2025, while Li Auto gained 2.8% even after it posted deliveries in December of 44,246 vehicles, down 24% from last year.
China's largest EV maker, BYD, said late Thursday that it sold 420,398 units in December, down 18% from a year earlier year and marking its fourth consecutive month of sales declines. Its Hong Kong shares rose 3.6%.
American depositary receipts of Baidu jumped 12% in the premarket session. The Chinese internet company said Friday that its artificial-intelligence chip unit Kunlunxin has confidentially filed an application to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Newmont rose 2.7% as gold and silver prices moved higher. Shares of the world's largest gold miner have risen 160% over the past 12 months amid a surge in precious metals.
Western Digital rose 2.8% ahead of the opening bell. The supplier of traditional hard disk drives, used for high-capacity data storage, was the best performer in the S&P 500 last year, with shares rising 282%.
Wayfair rose 1% and RH gained 1.7% after President Donald Trump delayed by a year tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities that were set to go into effect Thursday.
