US Futures Edge Lower Ahead of Major Earnings

2026-05-17 23:56 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

US stock futures edged lower on Monday as investors awaited Nvidia’s closely watched earnings report later this week for fresh signals on the durability of the artificial intelligence-driven market rally.

Earnings from major retailers including Walmart and Target are also expected to offer insight into how the Middle East-driven energy price shock is affecting US consumer spending.

Meanwhile, oil prices continued to rise after President Donald Trump warned that Tehran is running out of time to reach a deal with Washington, while Iranian media reports indicated negotiations remain far apart.

Last week, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite climbed to new record highs as gains in technology and AI-related shares extended further, though both indexes pulled back on Friday as Treasury yields jumped amid growing inflation concerns.

Recent economic data also pointed to accelerating US inflation, leading traders to fully rule out any Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.



News Stream
US Stocks Hold Rebound
US stocks rose further on Thursday with support from lower energy prices ahead of Nvidia's earnings results, due to update the state of the AI economy that has supported the stock market this year. The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq 100 were over 1% higher. Three supertankers left the Strait of Hormuz with full cargoes as President Trump stated a deal with Iran could come soon, taming concerns of energy inflation. Nvidia gained 1.5% as it is likely to confirm sharp growth in earnings and orders, but the tone of its guidance is due to impact the whole tech sector as AI spending has carried the US investment last quarter and underpin productivity growth and infrastructure expenditure in coming years. The AI sector was also supported by reports that OpenAI is preparing to file for an IPO as soon as Friday, paving the way for more AI spending. Meanwhile, TJX and Target were both higher following their results. Broader sectors were also higher as yields retreated, despite hawkish Fed minutes.
2026-05-20
US Stocks Extend Gains
US stocks rose further on Thursday with support from lower energy prices ahead of Nvidia's earnings results, due to update the state of the AI economy that has supported the stock market this year. The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq 100 were around 1% higher. Satellite data showed three supertankers leaving the Strait of Hormuz with full cargoes as President Trump stated a deal with Iran could come soon, taming concerns of energy inflation. Nvidia gained 2% as it is likely to confirm sharp growth in earnings and orders, but the tone of its guidance is due to impact the whole tech sector in a period where AI spending has carried the US investment last quarter and underpin productivity growth and infrastructure expenditure in coming years. The AI sector was also supported by reports that OpenAI is preparing to file for an IPO as soon as September, paving the way for more AI spending. Meanwhile, TJX and Target were both higher following their results.
2026-05-20
US 10-Year Yield Pulls Back
The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note fell to 4.60% on Wednesday from the 16-month high of 4.7% in the previous session as Washington signaled it is close to signing an agreement with Iran to end their conflict, taming pro-inflationary risks. President Trump stated the US was on the final stages of talks with Tehran and three supertankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz with full cargoes, driving oil and fuel prices to retreat. The surge in energy inflation this year had already shown signs of spreading to core areas of the economy, resulting in hawkish dissents in the last Fed rate decision. Minutes from said decision are due shortly, set to unveil insights on how other FOMC members see risks of inflation rising further and whether the Fed has room for a lower balance sheet. The Fed is still expected to keep the federal funds rate unchanged for the remainder of the year, although market-implied odds of a rate hike in December currently stand at around 50%.
2026-05-20