U.S. stock index futures were little changed during overnight trading on Thursday, after the S&P 500 posted its best day since March on stronger-than-expected earnings.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 36 points. S&P 500 futures advanced 0.11%, while Nasdaq 100 futures were up 0.12%.

During regular trading the S&P 500 advanced 1.71%, registering its best day since March 5. A four-day losing streak was broken by the Dow with a 1.55% gain. It was its highest day in 30 stocks since July 20, 2007. For its highest day since May, the Nasdaq Composite saw a gain of 1.73%. The week will end in green for all three averages.

These gains are due to a strong beginning of earnings season. Eight members of the S&P 500 posted quarterly results on Thursday morning, with each one topping Wall Street’s expectations. Among the financial heavyweights were Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Bank of America.

Edward Moya (Oanda senior market analyst) stated that “the banks painted a healthy and strong picture of the US consumer.” He said that Wall Street cannot turn the economy against it after witnessing reserve releases, moderate trading revenue and mixed loan growth.

Goldman Sachs and J.B. Hunt are just a few of the companies that will release quarterly results Friday.

Also, sentiment was lifted by an unexpectedly high employment rate. The Labor Department reported that the weekly number of jobless claims was 293,000 for the week ending Thursday. This is the lowest reading since the outbreak.

Thursday’s gain was despite high levels of inflation which have been criticized by some as threatening the recovery. Data from Labor Department shows that the Consumer Price Index rose by 0.4% and 5.4% respectively in September.

Charlie Ripley (senior investment strategist, Allianz Investment Management) stated that “One thing is certain: inflation has been consistently higher than expected over the summer and that the Fed is beginning notice.”

“The Fed is finding it harder to ignore higher levels inflation and some market participants are questioning the ‘transitory view’ on inflation…we believe that higher levels are forcing Fed to advance their exit strategy for high levels of monetary stimuli,” he said.

The economic data side will see retail sales numbers released on Friday, at 8:30 am. ET while the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment reading at 10 AM will be available on tape ET.