Aurora Innovation (AUR) shares surged 5.16% in Friday's intraday trading, showcasing a remarkable turnaround from the premarket slump. The autonomous vehicle technology company's stock demonstrated resilience in the face of potentially negative news, ending the day on a high note.

The day began with a setback for Aurora as news broke that co-founder Sterling Anderson had resigned from his position as Chief Product Officer. This announcement initially sent shares tumbling 4.1% in premarket trading, raising concerns about the company's leadership and future direction. However, the market's reaction took an unexpected positive turn as the regular trading session progressed.

The dramatic reversal in Aurora's stock performance can be attributed, in part, to a vote of confidence from Wall Street. Needham, a respected financial services company, maintained its Buy rating on Aurora Innovation. This reaffirmation of the company's potential likely played a crucial role in bolstering investor sentiment and offsetting concerns stemming from Anderson's departure. The maintained Buy rating suggests that despite the leadership change, analysts remain optimistic about Aurora's long-term prospects in the competitive autonomous vehicle market.