Stock Market Today: Futures Surge as Trade Tensions Ease, Earnings Season Kicks Off

Market Overview - U.S. equity index futures are experiencing a strong rebound, with S&P 500 futures up approximately 1.2% to 1.5%, Nasdaq 100 futures gaining between 1.6% and 2.1%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbing 0.7% to 1.12% [2][4] - The positive sentiment is driven by President Trump's conciliatory remarks regarding U.S.-China trade tensions, easing fears of an escalating trade war [2][4] Major Companies and Developments - The "Magnificent Seven" tech giants are leading the premarket rally, with Nvidia up 3.7%, Tesla gaining 2.8%, and Microsoft advancing 1.5% [3] - AstraZeneca has reached a drug-pricing agreement with the Trump administration, similar to a previous deal by Pfizer [11] - Johnson & Johnson is reportedly in discussions to acquire Protagonist Therapeutics, which is collaborating on a treatment for ulcerative colitis [11] - BASF announced it would sell a majority stake in its coatings unit to Carlyle Group for $6.7 billion while retaining a 40% interest [11] Economic Outlook and Events - The ongoing U.S. government shutdown is expected to delay the release of key economic data, including CPI and PPI, with the CPI report now anticipated on October 24 [5] - The Federal Reserve is a key focus, with markets pricing in a nearly 96% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut in October [6] - The third-quarter earnings season is set to begin, with major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup reporting this week [7][16] International Developments - German farm machinery firm Krone has halted U.S. exports of large equipment due to "hidden" tariffs, indicating ongoing trade complexities [13] - Indian IT services company HCL Technologies is set to announce its Q2 FY26 results, with investors keen on management's commentary regarding its deal pipeline [13]