08:52 AM EDT, 05/10/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures rose ahead of Friday's opening bell, adding to gains from the previous session after a higher-than-expected jobless claims report triggered a decline in interest rates.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.3%, S&P 500 futures increased 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were up 0.5%.

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. The increase in claims indicates a softening in the labor market.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.4% and US West Texas Intermediate crude up 0.6%, 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 at 76.0 in May following April's 77.2 print.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.4% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 2.3% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.01% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 rose 0.8% and Germany's DAX index was up 0.6% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, shares of Novavax ( NVAX ) more than doubled pre-bell after the company unveiled a co-exclusive licensing deal with Sanofi ( SNY ) for Novavax's ( NVAX ) COVID-19 vaccine. Sensus Healthcare ( SRTS ) shares jumped 30% after the company reported improved Q1 financial results. Sweetgreen ( SG ) shares advanced 22% after the company reported a narrower fiscal Q1 loss on higher revenue and lifted its revenue guidance.

On the losing side, MacroGenics ( MGNX ) shares slumped 68% after the company said late Thursday that five patients have died in an ongoing prostate cancer study. Applied Optoelectronics ( AAOI ) shares fell 12% after reporting weaker Q1 financial results.