08:06 AM EDT, 05/10/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were higher in premarket activity Friday, extending gains from the previous session following a stronger-than-expected jobless claims report.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.2%, S&P 500 futures increased 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures were up 0.4%.

Major benchmarks ended higher Thursday after data from the Department of Labor showed initial unemployment claims increased by 22,000 to 231,000 in the week ended May 4, well ahead of estimates compiled by Bloomberg for 212,000 claims.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.6% and US West Texas Intermediate crude up 0.7%, after data out of China signaled stronger demand for crude. China's crude oil imports rose by 5.5% from the previous year in April, according to media reports.

Consumer sentiment, due at 10 am ET, is expected to come in at 76.0 in May following April's 77.2 level.