By Silvia Amaro, CNBC–

U.S. stock index futures rose sharply ahead of Friday’s open on news surrounding U.S.-China trade talks.

At around 6:20 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures indicated a gain of more than 300 points at the open. Futures on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 also pointed to a positive open.

Trade-related names like Caterpillar and Boeing rose 2.4 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively, in the premarket.

Stock markets in Europe and Asia got a lift after China’s commerce ministry said the U.S. and Chinese would hold vice-ministerial level negotiations over trade in Beijing on Jan. 7-8. The two countries are trying to reach a breakthrough to resolve their differences over a 90-day tariffs truce.

Investors will also be keeping an eye on a speech by Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell at 10:15 am ET. Powell will take part in “Federal Reserve Chairs: Joint Interview” panel on monetary policy and central banking at the American Economic Association and Allied Social Science Association annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

U.S. stocks plunged on Thursday following news that Apple had cut its revenue guidance on the back of economic deceleration in China. This sparked concerns over a broader economic slowdown of the global economy. The Dow dropped as much as 2.8 percent on the day and the Nasdaq fell 3 percent.

On Friday, investors will be monitoring key data releases, with nonfarm payrolls out at 8.30 a.m., and unemployment data out at the same time.