Virgin Galactic, Bitcoin, Moderna, Goldman: What to Watch When the Stock Market Opens Today

Futures are ticking higher, pointing to muted gains at the end of a choppy week. Here’s what we’re watching ahead of Friday’s opening bell.

Virgin Galactic shares plunged 20% premarket after the space tourism company said it is pushing back the launch of full commercial service for private-astronaut trips until toward the end of next year as it works to improve its space vehicles.

Goldman Sachs , J.B. Hunt Transport Services and PNC Financial Services are due to report earnings Friday.
Southwest Gas edged up 0.4%, building on Thursday’s late-session 7% jump. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn escalated his challenge to the Nevada utility by offering to buy shares and announcing plans to try to replace the company’s board.
Moderna gained 2.9% premarket after vaccine experts advising the FDA voted, 19-0, to recommend authorization of an extra dose of its Covid-19 shot.
Alcoa climbed 5.8%. The aluminum maker reported a 31% rise in sales for its latest quarter, even as shipments fell, partly because of a lack of railcars.
Bitcoin prices were up 3%, bringing it closer to $60,000, and crypto stocks were enjoying the ride. Coinbase Global added 2.1%, Marathon Digital gained 4.2% and BIT Mining rose 3.9%.
Duck Creek Technologies sank 15% premarket. The enterprise software company reported a net loss for the final quarter of its fiscal year.

Shares of Petershill Partners , an investment vehicle managed by Goldman Sachs’ asset-management arm, are down 9% since its initial public offering late last month. That is worse than both the broader market and peers.

Write to James Willhite at james.willhite@wsj.com