Wall Street Futures Rise as Cisco AI Boom Drives Earnings and U.S. PPI Looms: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq

U.S. equity futures edged higher on Thursday as traders turned their attention to another key inflation release and continued to assess results from major technology companies. Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) slipped after the closing bell despite reporting a sharp increase in profit and revenue supported by artificial intelligence-related demand, while Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) is set to deliver its latest results later in the day. Markets are also watching the escalating dispute between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides claiming control of the crucial oil transit route.

U.S. futures point to a firmer open

Futures tied to Wall Street’s major benchmarks moved modestly higher ahead of Thursday’s session as investors balanced easing consumer inflation against another busy day for corporate earnings.

At 02:58 ET (06:58 GMT), Dow futures were higher by 26 points, or…