By Alexandra Gibbs, CNBC–

U.S. stock index futures posted solid gains ahead of Friday’s open, extending the positive run seen in the previous session on Wall Street.

Around 4:50 a.m. ET, Dow futures rose 76 points, indicating a positive open of 114.02 points. Futures on the S&P 500 were upbeat, indicating an open of 7.80 points, while Nasdaq futures rose, signaling an open of +28.21 points.

The moves in premarket trade came after Wall Street closed Thursday’s session on a strong note, with the Dow soaring just over 250 points to its first record high since January. During Thursday’s session, the S&P 500 also hit an all-time high, its first since August.

Trade tensions between the U.S. and China continue to rattle investors after both inflicted fresh tariffs on one another earlier this week. China’s commerce ministry said Thursday that it hoped the States would show sincerity in trade negotiations, Reuters reported.

Also Thursday, the U.S. administration inflicted sanctions on the Chinese military for purchasing missile systems and fighter jets from Russia, according to Reuters.

Data due Friday includes the latest flash U.S. composite purchasing managers’ index figures, scheduled for publication at 9:45 a.m. ET.

While no corporate earnings are due Friday, individual stocks news will likely keep investors alert. Twenty-First Century Fox and Comcast are heading for an auction this weekend to settle a takeover bid for British broadcaster Sky. The bidding procedure is due to kick off Friday evening and end on Saturday.

Overseas, markets in Europe and Asia posted solid gains during their respective Friday sessions.

Disclosure: Comcast is the owner of NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC and CNBC.com.