Stocks were set to open higher Friday, Sept. 25, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq heading toward winning weeks despite lower oil prices and rising bond yields. The 10-year Treasury yield’s recent increase pushed the 30-year mortgage rate to 7.45%, its highest level since 2024. Oil retreated amid optimism that Iran could offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks with the U.S. within seven days if Washington accepts its conditions. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had exchanged threats in speeches at the United Nations earlier in the week. Trump also spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House about the Iran war and artificial intelligence, before hosting a state dinner attended by AI billionaires. Xi was scheduled to end his Washington visit at the National Archives. Corporate developments dominated the market watchlist: Anthropic and Akamai Technologies announced a seven-year, $11.6 billion commitment to expand their partnership, sending Akamai shares nearly 20% higher; Bank of America raised Advanced Micro Devices’ price target to $720 from $620; and Micron prepared to report earnings as BMO said memory demand could exceed supply through calendar 2027. Deutsche Bank lifted Meta Platforms’ target to $820 from $750 and maintained a buy rating, while Costco’s better-than-expected quarter failed to resolve concerns about membership trends and growth. Wells Fargo analyst Mike Mayo raised estimates for BNY and cut them for Goldman Sachs while retaining hold and buy ratings, respectively. Bank of America downgraded Nike to sell from neutral, lowered its target to $30 from $47, and cut earnings and sales estimates. The newsletter also included CNBC Investing Club trading-alert timing rules, disclosures that no fiduciary duty exists and no specific outcome or profit is guaranteed, and a promotion for a free email newsletter.