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US Stock Pre-Market Report - February 3, 2026

Summarized by NextFin AI
  • U.S. index futures0.2%, Nasdaq-100 futures by 0.5%, and Dow Jones futures slightly up by 0.1%.
  • ISM Manufacturing PMI52.6, indicating the first expansion in a year, which has positively influenced equities and yields.
  • Fed policy remains stable with the funds target held at 3.50%–3.75%, while market expectations shift towards potential cuts in late 2026.
  • SpaceX and xAI announced a merger valued at $1.25T, enhancing sentiment in the AI sector.

NextFin News - Early U.S. pre‑market Tuesday.

Pre‑Market Performance

  • U.S. index futures
  • Europe (mid‑session)
    • FTSE 100: 10,264.18, −77.38 (−0.75%).
    • CAC 40: 8,164.65, −16.52 (−0.20%).
    • DAX: 24,848.92, +51.40 (+0.21%).
  • Commodities & FX
    • Brent crude: mid‑$60s/bbl; little changed after a 4.4% Monday drop to $66.30. wsj.com
    • WTI crude: low‑$60s/bbl. investing.com
    • Gold (futures): around $4,950/oz, +6% rebound. investopedia.com
    • U.S. Dollar Index (DXY): ~97.5, −0.1% early. barrons.com
    • U.S. 10‑yr Treasury yield: ~4.28%. barrons.com

Macroeconomic Policy and Data

  • Fed policy: The FOMC held the fed funds target at 3.50%–3.75% on Jan 28, with two dissents favoring a cut; statement language tilted slightly more hawkish on growth/labor. Market odds focus on later‑2026 cuts. economics.td.com
  • ISM Manufacturing (Jan): PMI 52.6 (consensus 48.4, prior 47.9); first expansion in a year. New Orders 57.1; Prices 59.0; Employment 48.1, prompting equities and yields to firm on the upside surprise. prnewswire.com
  • Producer Prices (Dec): Headline PPI +0.5% m/m (y/y 3.0%); services led the rise, implying some stickiness in pipeline inflation. apnews.com
  • Labor data & near‑term calendar: JOLTS (Dec) is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET today, though several labor reports—including JOLTS and January payrolls—face delay risk amid a partial federal funding lapse. Ahead (Wed, Feb 4): ADP Employment (8:15 a.m. ET) and ISM Services (10:00 a.m. ET). newyorkfed.org

Takeaway: A re‑accelerating ISM points to early‑year growth momentum and supports cyclical leadership, but firmer PPI and a Fed on hold argue for selective risk‑taking as rate‑cut timing drifts. A delayed labor tape could amplify volatility around alternative gauges (ADP/ISM) and Fed‑speak. nuveen.com

Hot News

  • SpaceX and xAI to merge: Elon Musk’s companies announced a merger valued near $1.25T, targeting space‑based AI infrastructure and adding to AI‑adjacent sentiment. investopedia.com
  • Oil balance tilts bearish: Analysts highlight oversupply into early 2026; Brent hovers in the mid‑$60s as inventories and OPEC+ output weigh despite periodic geopolitical spikes. investing.com
  • Dollar eases: DXY drifts lower after a brief spike tied to the Fed‑chair nomination narrative; crypto stabilizes. barrons.com
  • U.S.–India trade signals: Headlines around tariff reductions and energy purchases buoy risk appetite, contributing to Monday’s equity strength. wsj.com

U.S. Stock Focus

  • Palantir (PLTR) — Record AI quarter lifts shares: Q4 revenue rose ~70% y/y to $1.41B with adj. EPS $0.25; U.S. commercial revenue +137% and U.S. government +66%. 2026 revenue guide to ~$7.2B topped the Street; shares +10–11% pre‑market.
  • Teradyne (TER) — “Blowout” beat and guide on AI test demand: Q4 sales $1.08B and non‑GAAP EPS $1.80 (vs. $977M/$1.38 est.); Q1 guide $1.15–$1.25B revenue and $1.89–$2.25 EPS well above consensus; stock +19–20% pre‑market.
  • Woodward (WWD) — Raised FY26 outlook on strong aerospace/industrial: Q1 FY26 sales +29% to ~$996M; adj. EPS $2.17 beat; FY26 EPS guidance hiked to $8.20–$8.60; stock +14% pre‑market.
  • PayPal (PYPL) — CEO transition, miss sink shares: Enrique Lores named CEO (effective Mar 1) as Q4 EPS/revenue missed and outlook was conservative; shares −15–17% pre‑market.
  • DaVita (DVA) — Big guide raise powers rally: Q4 beat (EPS $3.40; rev $3.62B) and 2026 EPS guided to $13.6–$15 (above Street) sent shares up ~10–15% after hours and early pre‑market.
  • AMD (AMD) — Earnings on deck: Reports after the bell; consensus revenue ~$9.7B and EPS ~$1.34, with AI/data‑center commentary in focus for chip peers and suppliers.
  • TeraWulf (WULF) — AI hosting optionality keeps momentum: Stock remains sensitive to Bitcoin and recent multi‑year AI/HPC hosting deals; notable pre‑market strength alongside crypto stabilization.
  • Thomson Reuters (TRI) — Weak pre‑market ahead of Thursday earnings: Shares off ~8–9% pre‑market; company to report Q4/FY2025 on Feb 5 (8:30 a.m. ET).
  • Oracle (ORCL) — $50B AI funding plan: Company outlined a 2026 plan to raise up to $50B (mix of debt/equity) to expand cloud/AI infrastructure; shares wavered on dilution/cost concerns.

Context watch: Apple’s record FQ1 results (revenue $143.8B; EPS $2.84) continue to support mega‑cap tech tone this week, while gold’s whipsaw and oil’s mid‑$60s range frame the macro cross‑currents for risk assets. apple.com

Explore more exclusive insights at nextfin.ai.

Insights

What are the primary factors influencing pre-market performance of U.S. stock indices?

What is the significance of the recent ISM Manufacturing report for market analysts?

How are current Fed policies affecting investor sentiment in the stock market?

What recent trends are observed in oil prices and their implications for the economy?

What impact does the merger between SpaceX and xAI have on the tech industry?

How do U.S.–India trade discussions influence market risk appetite?

What challenges are companies like PayPal facing with leadership transitions?

How does Palantir's recent performance reflect broader trends in AI-related stocks?

What are the market reactions to the latest earnings reports from major companies?

What are the potential future effects of the Fed's decision to keep interest rates steady?

In what ways do recent commodity price fluctuations affect equity markets?

What are the implications of rising consumer prices indicated by the Producer Prices report?

How might the anticipated changes in labor data influence market volatility?

What distinguishes the performance outlook for companies in the AI sector compared to traditional sectors?

What are the key metrics investors should focus on in upcoming earnings reports?

How does the current market sentiment compare to historical periods of economic uncertainty?

What role do geopolitical factors play in current market dynamics, particularly in oil prices?

How do stock market reactions differ between tech and non-tech companies in earnings reports?

What historical precedents can be drawn from current macroeconomic trends affecting the stock market?

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