6.30am: More big tech earnings due US stocks were expected to open higher on Thursday with the focus again on big tech earnings after Facebook’s owner Meta Platforms reported stronger than expected first-quarter figures yesterday, setting the stage for results from Twitter, Apple and Amazon after the New York close tonight. Worries about inflationary pressures continue to rumble on as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its third month, continues without any clear sign of progress towards peace.