NextFin News -
1) Pre-Market Performance
U.S. equity futures pointed lower before the open, with pressure concentrated in growth and megacap technology after the first major batch of Big Tech earnings and renewed energy-price concerns.
- Nasdaq 100 futures: 28,964.8, down 216.5 points, or -0.74%.
- S&P 500 futures: 7,499.8, down 40.5 points, or -0.54%.
- Dow Jones futures: 52,148, down 301 points, or -0.57%.
European equities were also weaker, led by France, as investors weighed Middle East supply risks, higher oil prices and a heavy earnings tape.
- FTSE 100: 10,689.84, down 27.13 points, or -0.25%; intraday range 10,657.09 to 10,720.33.
- CAC 40: 8,343.08, down 94.81 points, or -1.12%; intraday range 8,323.10 to 8,434.45.
- DAX: 25,003.91, down 151.50 points, or -0.60%; intraday range 24,909.03 to 25,074.28.
Commodity and currency moves remained key drivers of sentiment as supply-route risks pushed energy prices higher.
- Brent crude: quoted at $96.49 a barrel earlier in the session and later pushed above $98, highlighting inflation and margin pressure on transport and rate-sensitive shares.
- WTI crude: traded around $88.42, up about 1.8%.
- Gold: spot gold traded near $4,103.39 an ounce, down 0.6%, after touching $4,165.87 on Wednesday.
- U.S. Dollar Index: broadly flat near 101.11, while the dollar traded around 163.36 yen, leaving the yen near its weakest level in roughly four decades.
2) Hot News
- U.S. futures retreat as AI spending worries return
U.S. stock-index futures fell as investors reassessed Big Tech earnings, with Alphabet and Tesla failing to deliver a clean risk-on signal. The pullback was amplified by higher oil prices, which revived concerns over inflation, margins and the path for rates.
- Oil extends rally on supply-route threats
Crude prices rose for a fifth session as U.S.-Iran hostilities and Houthi attacks around the Red Sea raised fears of disruptions across multiple energy chokepoints. Brent climbed as high as the upper-$90s, putting airlines, logistics firms and other fuel-sensitive groups under renewed scrutiny.
- Global shares mixed as Europe weakens
Asian shares were broadly firmer, but European markets moved lower as the escalation in the Middle East lifted energy prices and curbed risk appetite. The DAX, CAC 40 and FTSE 100 all traded in negative territory, consistent with the defensive tone in U.S. futures.
- Dollar steadies as safe-haven demand offsets cross-currency pressure
The dollar index held near 101.11 as investors balanced geopolitical risk against shifting rate expectations. Dollar-yen remained elevated around the 163 area, keeping attention on import-cost pressure and possible currency-market intervention risk in Japan.
3) U.S. Stock Focus
- Alphabet — Q2 revenue beats, but capex concerns pressure shares
Alphabet reported second-quarter revenue of $112.11 billion, beating Wall Street expectations as advertising and AI-related cloud demand supported growth. Despite the beat, shares were indicated lower in pre-market trading as investors focused on the scale and return profile of AI infrastructure spending.
- Tesla — Profit miss outweighs revenue strength
Tesla posted second-quarter revenue of $28.24 billion and adjusted earnings of $0.33 per share, with profits falling short as costs rose. The stock weakened after hours as investors weighed higher spending on AI, batteries, manufacturing capacity and new vehicle programs against stronger sales momentum.
- IBM — Second-quarter results follow earlier warning
IBM released its second-quarter results after the close, reporting $2.6 billion of net cash from operating activities, up $0.9 billion year over year. The update kept investor focus on software growth and the company’s ability to convert AI-related demand into sustained revenue acceleration.
- ServiceNow — Subscription revenue rises 24.5%
ServiceNow reported second-quarter total revenue of $3.987 billion, up 24% year over year, while subscription revenue rose 24.5% to $3.877 billion. The results reinforced demand for enterprise AI and workflow automation, with management highlighting adoption of its AI platform by large customers.
- Texas Instruments — Q2 earnings show analog-chip recovery
Texas Instruments reported second-quarter revenue of $5.46 billion, net income of $1.98 billion and earnings per share of $2.14. The numbers were closely watched for signs of demand recovery in analog and embedded chips after a prolonged inventory correction across industrial and automotive end markets.
- Southwest Airlines — Full-year adjusted EPS outlook set at $3.25 to $4.25
Southwest reported second-quarter results and said it expects full-year adjusted earnings per share of $3.25 to $4.25. The quarter was the first full period with its transformational initiatives in place, keeping investor focus on assigned seating, premium products, partnerships and cost discipline.
- American Airlines — Fuel spike forces profit-target cut
American Airlines reported record quarterly revenue but cut its full-year adjusted EPS outlook to a range of -$0.65 to $0.65, citing the impact of higher fuel prices. Shares fell about 4% in pre-market trading as the oil rally raised concerns over airline margins into the second half.
- Lockheed Martin — Guidance raise lifts defense shares
Lockheed Martin rose about 5.4% in pre-market trading after lifting its 2026 sales and profit forecasts. The move stood out in a weaker futures tape as defense demand remained supported by elevated geopolitical risk and government spending priorities.
- RTX — Q2 beat and raised guidance drive pre-market gains
RTX shares advanced in pre-market trading after the aerospace and defense company reported second-quarter earnings ahead of Wall Street estimates and raised its full-year guidance. The update added to the relative strength in defense and aerospace names during a broader risk-off morning.
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