Tech Earnings Drive Futures Higher as Market Eyes Economic Data

Core Viewpoint - U.S. equity futures are showing a mixed to positive outlook as investors react to recent corporate earnings, particularly in the technology sector, while also anticipating important economic data releases [1] Premarket Trading and Futures Movements - U.S. stock futures are generally higher, with Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.4%, S&P 500 futures up 0.3%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures up 0.1% [2] - The S&P 500 finished flat in the previous session, while the Nasdaq Composite rose by 0.2%, indicating a cautious optimism driven by positive earnings reports from tech companies [2] Current Market Indexes and Trends - The S&P 500 briefly surpassed 7,000 before settling lower, while the Nasdaq Composite showed strength, particularly from semiconductor stocks like Texas Instruments, which surged 9.9% [3] - The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates at 3.5%-3.75% and Chair Powell's comments on inflation are influencing market sentiment [3] Upcoming Market Events - Investors are closely monitoring a busy calendar of economic data and corporate earnings for further market direction [4] Earnings Releases - Key companies reporting earnings include Mastercard, Caterpillar, Thermo Fisher, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Sanofi, and Blackstone before market open, with Apple, Visa, and Western Digital reporting after market close [5] Economic Data Announcements - The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the revised Productivity and Costs report for Q3 2025, and the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model will update its GDP growth estimate, which was last at 5.4% for Q4 2025 [6] Policy Decisions - The Federal Reserve's recent decision to hold interest rates steady reflects a cautious approach, with Chair Powell noting improvements in the economic outlook but highlighting inflation concerns [7] Major Stock News and Developments - Microsoft shares fell 6.1% in premarket trading despite beating earnings estimates, raising concerns about capital spending and Azure growth [9] - Meta Platforms saw a 7.0% increase in after-hours trading due to strong advertising revenue [9] - Tesla gained 1.9% as investors focused on its future plans despite softer profits [9] - Sanofi announced a three-year profitability improvement program targeting 10% EBITDA by 2028 [10]