U.S. stock futures ticked higher early Tuesday as investors turned their focus to a heavy slate of economic data and high-profile earnings releases from major tech companies, including Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft.
As of 05:45 ET (09:45 GMT), Dow Jones futures were up 115 points, or 0.3%, while S&P 500 futures rose 10 points, or 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 40 points, or 0.2%.
On Monday, Wall Street experienced a volatile trading session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 closed marginally higher, while the Nasdaq Composite ended slightly lower, as investors weighed new remarks on trade policy from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
In an interview with CNBC, Bessent noted that several countries had presented the U.S. with “very good” tariff proposals. He added that all levels of the U.S. government remain in contact with China and emphasized that it is up to Beijing to de-escalate the situation. His comments followed a denial from Chinese officials that any such talks had taken place.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump is expected to partially soften the impact of his auto tariffs, potentially preventing them from stacking on top of existing broader trade levies.
Economic Reports and Earnings in Focus
Investors are bracing for a data-heavy week, with several critical U.S. economic indicators on the calendar. These include the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge—the PCE Price Index—as well as the monthly U.S. jobs report, both of which could influence the Fed’s policy outlook.
Also on the docket are the first-quarter GDP figures and the JOLTS job openings report for March, which are expected to shed further light on the strength of the labor market and the broader economy.
On the corporate front, earnings season continues at full speed, with about one-third of S&P 500-listed companies scheduled to report this week. Market attention is particularly fixed on the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps, including Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Meta Platforms (META).
Microsoft and Meta are slated to report results on Wednesday, while Apple and Amazon will follow on Thursday.
Before Tuesday’s opening bell, major earnings include Coca-Cola (KO), Pfizer (PFE), and Spotify (SPOT). After the close, investors will digest results from Visa (V), Starbucks (SBUX), and Mondelez (MDLZ).
Oil Prices Slip as Supply Outlook and Geopolitics Weigh
Crude prices fell on Tuesday as global growth concerns, continued trade tensions, and rising supply weighed on sentiment.
By 05:45 ET, Brent crude had declined 1.3% to $63.97 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 1.3% to $61.27 per barrel.
Adding to the pressure was a surprise announcement from Russia of a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine, which raised hopes of potential diplomatic progress. Additionally, traders are looking ahead to next week’s OPEC+ meeting, where the group is widely expected to raise output for a second consecutive month.
