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* Futures up: Dow 0.34%, S&P 500 0.19%, Nasdaq 0.11%

April 17 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose on

Friday, setting the stage for a strong weekly close as

investors embraced renewed optimism over de-escalating tensions

in the Middle East.

Sentiment improved after U.S. President Donald Trump said

Washington could soon secure a peace agreement to end the war

with Iran, while urging the Tehran-backed Hezbollah group to

respect a 10-day truce that had taken effect between Lebanon and

Israel.

The prospect of de-escalation encouraged investors to buy

risk assets, including battered technology and software stocks.

Analysts said a broader risk-on move could persist even without

an immediate peace deal, provided investors remain confident

that a resolution is ultimately within reach.

"A resolution is more likely than not over the coming weeks

even if the path is unlikely to be a straight line," analysts at

Deutsche Bank wrote.

At 5:01 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis jumped 168 points, or

0.34%, U.S. S&P 500 E-minis rose 13.5 points, or 0.19%,

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 28.5 points, or 0.11%.

However, caution around the weekend talks between U.S. and

Iranian officials lingers and any breakdown could reignite

volatility.

Moreover, passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains

disrupted, keeping oil prices nearly 36% above pre-war levels

even as the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite

fully recovered their earlier losses.

With no major economic data scheduled for release on Friday,

investors are likely to focus more on corporate earnings, which

so far this week have pointed to a resilient U.S. consumer.

Notable movers in the premarket session included Netflix ( NFLX )

, which fell 9.3% after forecasting current-quarter

earnings below expectations. The slide comes as co-founder and

longtime chairman Reed Hastings steps down, marking an end to a

29-year tenure.

Alcoa ( AA ) fell 2.3% after the aluminum producer reported

first-quarter profit and revenue below analyst estimates, citing

elevated costs and softening demand.

Central bank commentary will also be in focus, with San

Francisco Fed President Mary Daly, Richmond Fed President Tom

Barkin, and Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller

scheduled to speak.

However, recent remarks from Fed officials have had limited

impact on rate expectations.