US stock markets opened higher, with the S&P 500 gaining for the fourth consecutive day on the back of strong earnings and easing inflation concerns. Despite this upward trend, stock futures exhibited mixed signals as investors digested a flurry of earnings reports, alongside retail sales data that fell short of expectations. The Dow Jones faced pressure, particularly from UnitedHealth, while Nvidia surged due to strong demand for its AI chips. Overall, market performance remained resilient, reflecting investor optimism balanced by caution as key economic indicators continued to emerge.