
US stock market futures rise as S&P 500 nears record high on Fed rate cut hopes and China trade progress; Dow, Nasdaq rise too as Nike, Nvidia, Palantir surge
Which stocks are moving the most today?
Gainers
Nike (NKE) jumped nearly 10% after its quarterly earnings beat expectations. The athletic giant also offered a more upbeat outlook than analysts had projected, even as it warned of a modest revenue decline.
jumped nearly after its quarterly earnings beat expectations. The athletic giant also offered a more upbeat outlook than analysts had projected, even as it warned of a modest revenue decline. Core Scientific (CORZ) rose 5.5% amid merger rumors involving AI-focused firm CoreWeave.
rose amid merger rumors involving AI-focused firm CoreWeave. Oklo (OKLO) surged 5.4% , continuing its upward streak alongside strong speculative interest in nuclear energy plays.
surged , continuing its upward streak alongside strong speculative interest in nuclear energy plays. AeroVironment (AVAV) , Trade Desk (TTD) , and NuScale Power (SMR) also saw gains of 4% or more .
, , and also saw gains of . Palantir (PLTR) added 0.7% , boosted by renewed investor interest in artificial intelligence.
added , boosted by renewed investor interest in artificial intelligence. Nvidia (NVDA) climbed around 0.5%, keeping its lead as one of the year's top-performing tech giants.
Losers
Concentrix (CNXC) slumped 7.2% after delivering mixed Q2 results and offering a cautious forward outlook.
slumped after delivering mixed Q2 results and offering a cautious forward outlook. Bruker (BRKR) dropped 4.4% , while Darling Ingredients (DAR) fell 2.6% , likely on broader weakness in the industrials and commodities sectors.
dropped , while fell , likely on broader weakness in the industrials and commodities sectors. Gold miners like Newmont and Barrick slipped 2%–2.3% as gold prices softened amid rising yields.
Is a new U.S.-China trade deal finally coming together?
Live Events
How close is the S&P 500 to a record-breaking rebound?
'There is so much money that wants to come into the market that didn't for a while. And I just think if you don't have any negative news, the natural gravitational pull is across all these assets.'
Could U.S. inflation data stall the market rally?
Headline PCE: +0.1% month-over-month, +2.3% year-over-year
Core PCE (excluding food and energy): +0.1% from April, +2.6% from a year ago
US stock market futures today: S&P 500 and Nasdaq rise ahead of inflation data and trade optimism
US stock futures:
Index Change Current Level S&P 500 E-mini +13.5 points (+0.22%) ~6,209.5 Nasdaq-100 E-mini +63–92 points (≈0.3%–0.4%) ~22,735–22,760
What does this mean for rare earths and tech restrictions?
What economic reports are traders watching?
Final June consumer sentiment report from the University of Michigan
from the University of Michigan Scheduled speeches from key Federal Reserve officials
Continued speculation around the next Fed chair pick
What's next for Wall Street as global trade shifts?
S&P 500 futures rose 0.3%, with the index just 0.1% below its all-time high.
U.S.-China trade framework finalized, says Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
President Trump confirms a new understanding with China tied to the Geneva agreement.
Rare earth exports and tech trade restrictions to ease.
Inflation data at 8:30 a.m. ET could steer Fed expectations and market direction.
FAQs:
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Stock futures rose early Friday, pushing the S&P 500 closer to a new all-time high, as investors grew more optimistic about a potential U.S.-China trade deal and awaited new U.S. inflation data that could impact the Federal Reserve's next move. With President Donald Trump confirming a recent agreement with China and top officials signaling progress on multiple trade fronts, Wall Street reacted positively.Futures tied to the S&P 500 climbed 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained by the same margin, while Nasdaq-100 futures advanced 0.4%. The S&P 500, now up 23.3% from its April low, is just 0.1% below its all-time intraday high of 6,147.76.Here are Friday's top stock movers as of premarket trading:Trade optimism surged after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Bloomberg that a framework between the U.S. and China had been finalized. Lutnick added that the Trump administration expects to close trade deals with 10 major partners in the near term.President Trump added to the momentum by saying Thursday, 'we just signed with China yesterday.' While that statement caused brief confusion, a White House official later clarified it referred to 'an additional understanding of a framework to implement the Geneva agreement.'Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Commerce confirmed that both nations had agreed on a framework allowing rare earth exports to the U.S., and would also ease certain technology restrictions.The S&P 500 has staged a remarkable comeback since hitting its lowest closing point on April 8. Back then, markets were rattled by fears that Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods could hurt earnings and possibly drag the economy into a recession.But since that low, the index has risen 23.3%, fueled by improved earnings expectations, stronger economic data, and increased global trade optimism. As of Friday morning, it sits only 0.1% away from its all-time intraday peak of 6,147.76.Rick Rieder, Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income at BlackRock, told CNBC's Closing Bell:Before the S&P 500 can hit new records, investors are watching for fresh inflation data. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—a key inflation measure watched closely by the Federal Reserve—is due at 8:30 a.m. ET.Any surprises here could sway sentiment sharply, especially with markets already pricing in potential Fed rate cuts later this year.US stock market futures climbed early Friday, boosted by growing confidence in a U.S.-China trade breakthrough and ahead of the release of key inflation data. The S&P 500 E-mini futures rose by 13.5 points, or 0.22%, reaching around 6,209.5, while Nasdaq-100 futures gained between 63 to 92 points, trading near 22,735 to 22,760.This uptick comes as investors anticipate the May PCE inflation report at 8:30 a.m. ET, which could shape the Federal Reserve's next move. Market sentiment is also supported by President Donald Trump's confirmation of a new trade framework with China, including the resumption of rare earth exports and relaxed tech restrictions.A lower inflation reading could strengthen expectations for a potential Fed rate cut in July. As of now, traders see a 20.7% chance of a rate reduction, according to futures pricing.One standout detail in the China-U.S. agreement is Beijing's move to resume rare earth exports to the U.S. These minerals are crucial for electronics, EVs, and military hardware. Restrictions on them were a major concern for tech companies and defense contractors.Additionally, China's promise to ease tech trade restrictions could benefit American chipmakers and hardware suppliers, many of whom rely on Chinese parts or markets for a large share of their revenue.This development may lift sectors that had lagged during earlier trade tensions, potentially boosting both technology and industrial stocks.The May PCE inflation report, due this morning, is the key focus for Wall Street. Analysts expect core PCE to rise around 2.6% year-over-year, slightly up from 2.5% in April. This figure will heavily influence future Fed policy decisions. Any indication of softening inflation would further boost rate-cut bets and risk-on sentiment.Also on deck:The market is now watching for actual deals to be signed, especially with the Trump administration reportedly working on agreements with 10 major trading partners. If finalized, these could open new export markets and lift overall business confidence.Investors are also closely tracking the Fed's response to inflation data, which could dictate the pace of future rate cuts or changes in monetary policy.For now, however, Wall Street appears focused on trade optimism, a resilient economy, and the potential for record highs in major indexes.Stock futures rose on optimism about a U.S.-China trade deal and easing tech restrictions The S&P 500 is just 0.1% below its all-time high as markets rebound.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Solar players make a fast buck by blocking plug points to the grid
AI generated image NEW DELHI: A grey market for grid interconnect facilities has emerged in the solar sector as installation of projects outpace expansion of grid interconnect and transmission infrastructure. Smaller players are exploiting this mismatch by booking interconnect capacity for reselling at a hefty premium of Rs 40 lakh per MW (megawatt). Industry executives said these players book the grid interconnect, or ISTS (interstate transmission system) capacity, the moment bookings open. But they have little or no intention of setting up solar projects. Some of them hold on to the capacity by installing only a small part of the promised project. For example, 80% of the 40 GW interconnect capacity expected to be commissioned next year has already been booked. The executives suspect that a majority of the 8.8 GW (gigawatts) capacity in the Fatehgarh and Bikaner interconnect corridors in Rajasthan, the largest hubs in India, have been booked by such players. The situation has led to the underutilisation of the existing green corridors, while serious developers get stranded with their projects since they are unable to tie up consumers in the absence of a grid interconnect or wheeling capacity. 'Securing interconnect capacity from the grey market can affect project viability because of the substantial additional costs,' means taking a huge financial hit, which can affect the viability of projects,' one executive said. Interconnect capacity bought from the grey market for a 1,000 MW project can entail an additional expenditure of Rs 400 crore or so, he said. Interconnect capacity is currently allotted under three modes: LoA (letter of award of a project), land availability, and/or BGs (bank guarantees). Allottees are allowed to convert to another at a later stage. It is mostly the land- and bank guarantee-based allotments that being misused by developers. Nine developers were some time back served notices for revocation, which is likely to be appealed at the regulatory level. Some have invoked 'force-majeure' clause to delay the revocation. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
37 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Thinking capped: How generative AI may be quietly dulling our brains
It has been barely three years since generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots such as ChatGPT appeared on the scene, and there is already concern over how they might be affecting the human brain. The early prognosis isn't good. The findings of a recent study by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, Wellesley College, and MassArt indicate that tools such as ChatGPT negatively impact the neural, linguistic, and cognitive capabilities of humans. While this study is preliminary and limited in scope, involving barely 54 subjects aged 18 to 34, it found that those who used ChatGPT for writing essays (as part of the research experiment) showed measurably lower brain activity than their peers who didn't. 'Writing without (AI) assistance increased brain network interactions across multiple frequency bands, engaging higher cognitive load, stronger executive control, and deeper creative processing,' it found. Various experts in India, too, reiterate the concerns of overdependence on AI, to the extent where people outsource even thinking to AI. Those dealing with the human brain define this as 'cognitive offloading' which, they caution, can diminish critical thinking and reasoning capability while also building a sense of social isolation – in effect, dragging humans into an 'idiot trap'. Training the brain to be lazy 'We now rely on AI for tasks we used to do ourselves — writing essays, solving problems, even generating ideas,' says Nitin Anand additional professor of clinical psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru. 'That means less practice in critical thinking, memory recall, and creative reasoning.' This dependence, he adds, is also weakening people's ability to delay gratification. 'AI tools are designed for speed. They answer instantly. But that trains people to expect quick solutions everywhere, reducing patience and long-term focus.' Anand warns that this behavioural shift is feeding into a pattern of digital addiction, which he classifies as the 4Cs: craving, compulsion, loss of control, and consequences (see box). 'When someone cannot stop checking their phone, feels restless without it, and suffers in real life because of it — that's addiction,' he says, adding that the threat of addiction towards technology has increased multifold by something as adaptive and customisable as AI. Children and adolescents are particularly at risk, says Pankaj Kumar Verma, consultant psychiatrist and director of Rejuvenate Mind Neuropsychiatry Clinic, New Delhi. 'Their prefrontal cortex — the brain's centre for planning, attention, and impulse control — is still developing,' he explains. 'Constant exposure to fast-changing AI content overstimulates neural circuits, leading to short attention spans, poor impulse control, and difficulty with sustained focus.' The effects don't stop at attention 'We're seeing a decline in memory retention and critical thinking, simply because people don't engage deeply with information anymore,' Verma adds. Even basic tasks like asking for directions or speaking to others are being replaced by AI, increasing social isolation, he says. Much of this harks back to the time when landlines came to be replaced by smartphones. Landline users rarely needed a phonebook — numbers of friends, family, and favourite shops were memorised by heart. But with mobile phones offering a convenient 'contacts' list, memory was outsourced. Today, most people can barely remember three-odd numbers unaided. With AI, such cognitive shifts will likely become more pronounced, the experts say. What looks like convenience today might well be shaping a future where essential human skills quietly fade away. Using AI without losing ourselves Experts agree that the solution is not to reject AI, but to regulate its use with conscious boundaries and real-world grounding. Verma advocates for structured rules around technology use, especially in homes with children and adolescents. 'Children, with underdeveloped self-regulation, need guidance,' he says. 'We must set clear boundaries and model balanced behaviour. Without regulation, we risk overstimulating developing brains.' To prevent digital dependence, Anand recommends simple, yet effective, routines that can be extended to AI use. The 'phone basket ritual', for instance, involves setting aside all devices in a common space at a fixed hour each day — usually in the evening — to create a screen-free window for family time or rest. He also suggests 'digital fasting': unplugging from all screens for six to eight hours once a week to reset attention and reduce compulsive use. 'These habits help reclaim control from devices and re-train the brain to function independently,' he says. Perhaps, digital fasting can be extended to 'AI fasting' during work and school assignments to allow the brain to engage in cognitive activities. Pratishtha Arora, chief executive officer of Social and Media Matters, a digital rights organisation, highlights the essential role of parental responsibility in shaping children's digital lives. 'Technology is inevitable, but how we introduce it matters,' she says. 'The foundation of a child's brain is laid early. If we outsource that to screens, the damage can be long-term.' She also emphasises the need to recognise children's innate skills and interests rather than plunging them into technology at an early age. Shivani Mishra, AI researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, cautions against viewing AI as a replacement for human intelligence. 'AI can assist, but it cannot replace human creativity or emotional depth,' she says. Like most experts, she too advises that AI should be used to reduce repetitive workload, 'and free up space for thinking, not to avoid thinking altogether'. The human cost According to Mishra, the danger lies not in what AI can do, but in how much we delegate to it, often without reflection. Both Anand and Verma share concerns about how its unregulated use could stunt core human faculties. Anand reiterates that unchecked dependence could erode the brain's capacity to delay gratification, solve problems, and tolerate discomfort. 'We're at risk of creating a generation of young people who are highly stimulated but poorly equipped to deal with the complexities of real life,' Verma says. The way forward, the experts agree, lies in responsible development, creating AI systems grounded in ethics, transparency, and human values. Research in AI ethics must be prioritised not just for safety, but also to preserve what makes us human in the first place, they advise. The question is not whether AI will shape the future; it is already doing so. It is whether humans will remain conscious architects of that future or passive participants in it. Writing without AI assistance leads to higher cognitive load engagement, stronger executive control, and deeper creative processing Writing with AI assistance reduces overall neural connectivity and shifts the dynamics of information flow Large language model (LLM) users noted a diminishing inclination to evaluate the output critically Participants who were in the brain-only group reported higher satisfaction and demonstrated higher brain connectivity, compared to other groups Essays written with the help of LLM carried less significance or value to the participants as they spent less time on writing and mostly failed to provide a quote from their essays


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
US tariff: After China 'deal', Trump eyes trade pact with India, says ‘looking to drop full barrier'
US President Donald Trump (AP) US President Donald Trump on Friday signaled a possible breakthrough in trade negotiations with India, as Washington prepares to notify countries of new reciprocal tariffs. Speaking at a press conference, Trump said the US is seeking to dismantle trade restrictions that currently make it difficult for American businesses to operate in India, reported Reuters. 'India, I think we are going to reach a deal where we have the right to go and do trade,' Trump said. 'Right now, it's restricted. You can walk in there, you can't even think about it. We are looking to get a full trade barrier dropping, which is unthinkable and I am not sure that that is going to happen. But as of this moment, we agree that going to India and trade...' Trump's comments come as the US plans to send letters to multiple countries within the next 10 days, detailing what they will be required to pay to access American markets under a reciprocal tariff framework. 'We have made a deal with China... We have 200 countries plus,' Trump said. 'At a certain point over the next week and a half or so, or maybe before, we are going to send out a letter and talk to many other countries. We are going to tell them what they have to pay to do business with the US.' Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now