Stocks were nearly flat but hovering around record levels Friday morning, with all eyes on incoming corporate earnings reports, according to the Associated Press.
Futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq were all up less than 0.1% before the bell.
On Thursday, the S&P beat its all-time high from a week ago, and the Nasdaq added to its own record set Wednesday.
Norfolk Southern shares rose 4% on reports that it is in merger talks with Union Pacific to build the largest railroad in North America, connecting the East and West Coasts.
Shares of Chevron and Hess both ticked up on reports that their $53 billion merger would proceed after Exxon Mobil’s arbitration challenge was rejected in Paris.
Netflix fell 1.6% even after topping Wall Street’s profit and revenue targets.
U.S. benchmark crude oil rose 73 cents to $66.96 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, picked up 69 cents to $70.21 per barrel.
