5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens on Friday
5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens on Friday
Aaron McDadeFri, September 18, 2026 at 12:02 PM UTC
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Major indexes snapped a three-day losing streak on Thursday as oil prices and government bond yields fell.Credit: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images
Stock futures are pointing to a slightly higher open this morning as the market wraps up a volatile week of trading; the Nasdaq is on track to post weekly gains, while the S&P 500 and Dow enter the session down for the week; Warren Buffett is stepping aside as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway’s board; cryptocurrency stocks are rising alongside bitcoin; and the Apple 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with other new products, are available today. Here’s what you today.
Stock Futures Rise at the End of Volatile Week
Stock futures are slightly higher this morning as markets look to close out a volatile week on a positive note. Futures tracking the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq were recently up 0.1% and 0.3%, respectively, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell fractionally. The major indexes surged Thursday thanks to a tech rally that helped markets bounce back from three days of losses. WTI crude oil futures were down 0.4% at $101.50 per barrel, losing ground for the second consecutive day. The yield on the 10-year Treasury ticked higher to 4.97% after sliding yesterday as investors reacted to the Fed’s decision to raise interest rates, as well as the prospect more rate hikes are coming. Gold futures were up 0.4% to roughly $4,415 an ounce, while bitcoin traded at $78,000, up from an overnight low of $76,200 (more on that below).
Nasdaq on Pace to Post Weekly Gains
After surging yesterday, one of the three major stock indexes is on track to post weekly gains. The tech-heavy Nasdaq, which jumped 1.7% yesterday, enters today up 0.3% for the week, while the Dow and S&P 500 are down 1.5% and 0.3%, respectively. All three major indexes fell last week amid inflation data that essentially secured this week’s interest rate hike. This would mark the third straight week of losses for the Dow, and the second straight for the S&P 500. Since the start of the month, the Dow is down 2.6%, while the S&P 500 has shed 0.6% and the Nasdaq is up just 0.2%. So far, September has lived up to its reputation of being a the weakest month for the year for the stock market.
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Warren Buffett Stepping Down as Berkshire Chair
Warren Buffett is transitioning to another new role at Berkshire Hathaway, the investment giant announced this morning. Buffett will become Chairman Emeritus, remaining a member of the board, while his son Howard, who has been on Berkshire’s board since 1993, has been elected to replace him as Chairman. “Serving as your Chairman has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I have never taken your trust for granted,” the 96-year-old Buffett wrote in a letter to shareholders. “Father Time always wins. He has, however, been generous with me. He has given me the opportunity to see Berkshire reach a point where I am more confident than ever about what lies ahead.” Berkshire shares , which were little-changed in premarket trading, have gained just 1% since the start of the year, when Buffett handed over the CEO reins to Greg Abel.
Crypto Stocks Rise Alongside Bitcoin
A number of cryptocurrency-related stocks are on the rise Friday, tracking a rise in bitcoin. Shares of crypto exchanges Robinhood (HOOD) and Coinbase (COIN), stablecoin firm Circle (CRCL), and Strategy (MSTR), the largest single corporate holder of bitcoin, were all solidly higher ahead of the opening bell. The sector got a bit of relief yesterday as the Securities and Exchange Commission issued some new rules for the crypto industry. The news suggested that individual federal agencies are preparing to fill in the existing regulatory gaps while federal legislation remains stalled in Congress.
Apple Launches First New Products Under New CEO
Apple (AAPL) is launching new phones, watches and other products today. After being unveiled in last week’s annual launch event, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and the AirPods 5 are all available in Apple stores. The other product Apple announced last week, the foldable iPhone Duo, doesn’t launch until Oct. 23, while the base iPhone 18 isn’t expected to be revealed until next spring. The performance of the new lineup serves as Apple’s first big test since CEO John Ternus took over at the start of the month. Apple shares were little changed premarket, and enter the day trading within 1% of their July record high.
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Source: “AOL Money”
