09:03 AM EST, 01/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were mostly higher ahead of Friday's opening bell, with futures of technology sector-heavy Nasdaq Composite set to extend gains amid optimism surrounding semiconductor stocks.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were flat, S&P 500 futures were 0.2% higher, and Nasdaq futures were up 0.5%.

Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) reported Thursday stronger Q4 financial results and issued upbeat revenue projections.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1.2% at $64.51 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 1.2% higher at $59.88 per barrel.

The December industrial production bulletin, scheduled for release at 9:15 am ET, is expected to show a 0.1% increase versus a 0.2% gain in the preceding month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The January housing market index, due at 10 am ET, is expected to come in at 40 versus December's 39.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.3% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.3% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite also finished 0.3% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.1%, and Germany's DAX index was down 0.2% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) shares were 3.7% higher pre-bell after the company received approval from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for a maximum weekly Wegovy dose of 7.2 milligrams for obesity patients.

On the losing side, Mosaic (MOS) stock was down 4% after the company said that Q4 North American fertilizer demand declined "well beyond normal seasonal softness."