01 Stock Market
As of Apr 15, U.S. stock index futures performed as follows: Dow futures edged up 0.03%, S&P 500 minis firmed 0.07%, and Nasdaq 100 contracts were modestly higher by 0.02%. The flat tone suggests investors are pausing after the prior session’s rebound, waiting for a fresh round of corporate earnings and geopolitical headlines to set intraday direction. Stabilising futures hint at a cautious but constructive open, with traders balancing optimism over resilient economic data against persistent Middle-East uncertainty.
Notable Stock Movers: Quantum-computing names outperformed: QBTS up 9.78% at $18.63 and IONQ up 6.96% at $38.25 on AI collaboration headlines. Semiconductor suppliers showed strength, with AVGO up 2.67% at $390.95 after a multiyear chip deal with Meta, while MSFT up 0.85% at $396.43 and TSLA up 0.65% at $366.55 both advanced. In contrast, mega-cap chips softened: NVDA down 0.26% at $196.00 and AMD down 0.90% at $252.78, hinting at mild profit-taking after recent rallies. SolarEdge faced pressure, its shares down 4.1% at $52.20 following a broker downgrade, whereas fintech broker HOOD up 6.1% at $13.44 continued its momentum amid rising crypto-trading optimism. Overall, pre-bell breadth skews positive for AI hardware, quantum computing and select financials, while profit-taking weighs on prior high-flyers.
02 Other Markets
• 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose 0.27%, to 4.27%.
• U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.09% to 98.21.
• WTI crude oil futures rose 1.03% to 89.10 USD/barrel; COMEX gold futures fell 0.29% to 4 836 USD/ounce.
03 Key News
1. Morgan Stanley reported a sharp rise in quarterly profit, powered by a 36% jump in investment-banking fees and strong trading gains. Management highlighted resilient deal flow and heightened client hedging activity that lifted equity and fixed-income revenue. Shares advanced in pre-market dealings as investors welcomed the broad-based income momentum despite market volatility.
2. Bank of America delivered higher earnings, citing a 13% increase in sales-and-trading revenue and a 21% rise in advisory fees. Executives pointed to healthy consumer spending and steady credit quality, underscoring confidence in the economic backdrop even as rate and geopolitical risks persist.
3. Snap announced plans to eliminate roughly 1 000 positions—about 16% of its workforce—to save more than $500 million annually. The social-media group will also close over 300 open roles, joining a wave of tech companies tightening costs. Investors reacted positively, sending the stock sharply higher in pre-market trading.
4. ASML raised its medium-term revenue target to €36-40 billion, citing accelerating demand for advanced lithography tools tied to artificial-intelligence chip expansion. Management said customers are moving up capacity-addition timelines, reinforcing ASML’s role as a critical “picks-and-shovels” supplier to leading foundries.
5. Broadcom extended a multiyear partnership with Meta Platforms to supply custom AI accelerator chips through 2029. The renewed agreement secures a long pipeline of MTIA processors for Meta’s data-center build-out, bolstering Broadcom’s positioning in specialised semiconductor solutions.
6. GitLab expanded its collaboration with Google Cloud to integrate advanced development tools and AI capabilities into its DevSecOps platform. The deeper alliance aims to streamline enterprise software delivery and security, igniting a pre-bell surge in GitLab’s share price.
7. Amazon reached an estimated $11 billion accord to acquire satellite operator Globalstar, accelerating its low-Earth-orbit broadband ambitions. The purchase is expected to complement Amazon’s Leo constellation and dovetails with broader investments in satellite connectivity for cloud and consumer services.
8. Goldman Sachs filed with U.S. regulators to launch its first bitcoin exchange-traded fund, pairing spot exposure with an options-income strategy. The planned product would broaden Wall Street’s crypto lineup, though analysts note continued volatility could temper near-term demand.
9. The U.S. Department of Defense prepared to deploy additional troops to the Middle East, intensifying regional tensions and lifting energy prices in early trading. Traders interpreted the move as a sign of lingering geopolitical risk, supporting crude-oil futures and prompting a defensive tone in risk assets.
10. Goldman Sachs downgraded SolarEdge to Sell and cut its price target to $31, citing margin pressures and competitive headwinds. The bearish call weighed on sentiment around solar-equipment names, with SolarEdge shares sliding in the pre-market session.
Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not investment advice.
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