June Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQM26) are trending up +1.61% this morning as optimism that the U.S. and Iran are close to a peace agreement, along with upbeat quarterly results and guidance from Advanced Micro Devices, boosted sentiment.
Axios reported on Wednesday that the White House believes it is nearing an agreement with Tehran on a one-page memorandum to end the war and establish a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations. On Tuesday evening, President Trump said in a post on Truth Social that “Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran.” Mr. Trump also said he had agreed to temporarily pause “Project Freedom,” the administration’s initiative to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The price of WTI crude tumbled over -12% on Wednesday amid expectations that a resolution to the Middle East conflict could be near. A sharp drop in oil prices buoyed the debt market, with the 10-year T-note yield falling eight basis points to 4.35%.
Nasdaq 100 futures were also boosted by a more than +18% jump in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in pre-market trading after the semiconductor company posted upbeat Q1 results and delivered a blockbuster Q2 sales forecast. AMD also provided strong forecasts for its longer-term growth.
Investors are now awaiting the U.S. ADP employment report, remarks from Federal Reserve officials, and a slew of corporate earnings reports.
In yesterday’s trading session, Wall Street’s major indexes closed higher, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new record highs. Intel (INTC) jumped over +12% and was the top percentage gainer on the Nasdaq 100 after Bloomberg reported that Apple had held exploratory talks with the company and Samsung Electronics about manufacturing the main processors for its devices in the U.S. Also, shares of flash memory suppliers rallied, with SanDisk (SNDK) surging about +12% and Micron Technology (MU) soaring more than +11%. In addition, Waters Corp. (WAT) popped more than +13% and was the top percentage gainer on the S&P 500 after the company posted upbeat Q1 results and raised its full-year guidance. On the bearish side, Palantir Technologies (PLTR) sank over -6% after the data-wrangling software developer reported weaker-than-expected Q1 U.S. commercial sales.
Economic data released on Tuesday were mixed. The U.S. JOLTS job openings fell to 6.866 million in March, a smaller decline than expectations of 6.860 million. Also, U.S. March new home sales rose +7.4% m/m to 682K, stronger than expectations of 652K. In addition, the U.S. March trade deficit widened to -$60.3 billion, narrower than expectations of -$61 billion. Finally, the U.S. ISM services index fell to 53.6 in April, weaker than expectations of 53.7.
“[The March JOLTS report] will be a reassuring sign for the FOMC that labor demand remained stable into the early stages of the Iran conflict, providing little cause for easing on risk management grounds,” said Marc Giannoni, chief U.S. economist at Barclays.
Meanwhile, U.S. rate futures have priced in a 92.1% chance of no rate change and a 7.9% chance of a 25 basis point rate cut at the June FOMC meeting.
First-quarter corporate earnings season continues in full force, and investors look forward to new reports from prominent companies today, including Arm Holdings (ARM), Disney (DIS), AppLovin (APP), Uber Technologies (UBER), and CVS Health (CVS). According to Bloomberg Intelligence, companies in the S&P 500 are expected to post an average +12% increase in quarterly earnings for Q1 compared to the previous year, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
On the economic data front, investors will focus on the U.S. ADP private payrolls report, which is set to be released in a couple of hours. Economists, on average, forecast that the April ADP Nonfarm Employment Change will stand at 118K, compared to the March figure of 62K.
The EIA’s weekly crude oil inventories report will also be released today. Economists expect this figure to be -3.4 million barrels, compared to last week’s value of -6.2 million barrels.
In addition, market participants will parse comments today from St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem and Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee.
In the bond market, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note is at 4.35%, down -1.81%.
The Euro Stoxx 50 Index is up +2.22% this morning as optimism over a resolution to the Middle East conflict and strong corporate earnings reports boosted sentiment. Oil prices sank after U.S. President Trump announced a pause in “Project Freedom” and signaled “great progress” toward a comprehensive peace deal with Iran. Sentiment was further boosted by an Axios report, stating that the White House is nearing an agreement on a one-page memorandum of understanding with Iran to end the war. Mining stocks led the gains on Wednesday. Automobile stocks also climbed, led by a more than +6% jump in BMW (BMW.D.DX) after the carmaker reaffirmed its full-year outlook. In addition, healthcare stocks advanced, with Novo Nordisk (NOVOB.C.DX) rising over +6% after the Wegovy-maker raised its full-year guidance amid surging demand for its new weight-loss pill. A survey released on Wednesday showed that Eurozone services activity contracted in April for the first time in nearly a year, pressured by softer demand and weakening export orders as the Middle East conflict weighed on consumer-facing sectors. April’s slump in services pulled the overall composite PMI down to a 17-month low. Separately, data showed that France’s monthly industrial production rebounded strongly in March, driven by broad-based gains. In addition, the European Central Bank said that Eurozone wage growth is expected to slow this year, despite the surge in energy prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Eurozone government bond yields slumped on Wednesday as oil prices tumbled and investors scaled back bets on ECB rate hikes amid hopes of a U.S.-Iran peace deal. In other corporate news, Demant (DEMAN.C.DX) soared over +13% after the Danish hearing aid maker topped quarterly revenue growth expectations.
France’s Industrial Production, Eurozone’s Composite PMI, Eurozone’s Services PMI, and Eurozone’s PPI data were released today.
The French March Industrial Production rose +1.0% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.5% m/m.
Eurozone’s April Composite PMI came in at 48.8, stronger than expectations of 48.6.
Eurozone’s April Services PMI stood at 47.6, stronger than expectations of 47.4.
Eurozone’s March PPI rose +3.4% m/m and +2.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +3.3% m/m and +1.8% y/y.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index (SHCOMP) closed up +1.17%, while Japan’s financial markets were closed for a national holiday.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index closed higher today as investors returning from a five-day holiday piled into tech stocks. Semiconductor and other AI-related stocks jumped on Wednesday, joining a tech rally sweeping across Asian markets. The rally came after U.S. chipmakers drove record highs on Wall Street overnight and Advanced Micro Devices reported upbeat earnings and guidance after the U.S. close. Meanwhile, optimism over China’s technological self-reliance grew following reports that Huawei expects revenue from its AI chips to surge by at least 60% this year. Sentiment was also lifted by fresh signs of China’s economic resilience. A private-sector survey released on Wednesday showed that China’s services activity grew at a faster pace in April, supported by stronger expansion in new business. The reading stood in contrast to an official survey released last week, which showed services activity returning to contraction after expanding the previous month, as the two surveys cover different samples. Capital Economics economists said that the average of China’s official and private PMIs indicates a further pickup in economic momentum at the start of Q2, as strong exports offset weakness in construction. Hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East further fueled the risk-on mood on Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday evening in a post on Truth Social that “Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran.”
The Chinese April RatingDog Services PMI came in at 52.6, stronger than expectations of 52.0.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Index was closed today for the Constitution Memorial Day holiday. The markets will reopen on Thursday.
Pre-Market U.S. Stock Movers
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) jumped over +18% in pre-market trading after the semiconductor company posted upbeat Q1 results and delivered a blockbuster Q2 sales forecast.
Intel (INTC) climbed more than +6% in pre-market trading after AMD CEO Lisa Su highlighted the growing role of CPUs in AI data centers and said the products’ total addressable market would expand at over 35% annually to reach $120 billion by 2030.
Chip and AI infrastructure stocks gained in pre-market trading following AMD’s results, with Micron Technology (MU) rising more than +5% and Sandisk (SNDK) advancing over +4%.
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) surged more than +14% in pre-market trading after the AI server maker reported better-than-expected FQ3 adjusted EPS and provided solid FQ4 guidance.
Arista Networks (ANET) slumped over -9% in pre-market trading after the networking-equipment maker gave a soft Q2 adjusted operating margin forecast.
You can see more pre-market stock movers here
Today’s U.S. Earnings Spotlight: Wednesday - May 6th
Arm Holdings (ARM), The Walt Disney Company (DIS), AppLovin (APP), Uber Technologies (UBER), CVS Health (CVS), Marriott International (MAR), Johnson Controls International (JCI), Apollo Global Management (APO), DoorDash (DASH), Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Coherent (COHR), Fortinet (FTNT), Realty Income (O), Cencora (COR), Cenovus Energy (CVE), MetLife (MET), Exelon (EXC), Restaurant Brands International (QSR), Nutrien (NTR), TKO Group Holdings (TKO), Flex Ltd. (FLEX), Symbotic (SYM), NRG Energy (NRG), Atmos Energy (ATO), Axon Enterprise (AXON), Texas Pacific Land (TPL), Curtiss-Wright (CW), The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC), Eversource Energy (ES), United Therapeutics (UTHR), NiSource (NI), Albemarle (ALB), CF Industries Holdings (CF), MKS Inc. (MKSI), Permian Resources (PR), Royal Gold (RGLD), ITT Inc. (ITT), Global Payments (GPN), Flutter Entertainment (FLUT), Coeur Mining (CDE), CDW Corporation (CDW), Amcor (AMCR), IonQ, Inc. (IONQ), SharkNinja (SN), Western Midstream Partners (WES), Clean Harbors (CLH), PTC Inc. (PTC), Trimble (TRMB), SiTime (SITM), Regal Rexnord (RRX), Host Hotels & Resorts (HST), APA Corporation (APA), Fidelity National Financial (FNF), Performance Food Group Company (PFGC), American Homes 4 Rent (AMH), The New York Times Company (NYT), Aurora Innovation (AUR), BorgWarner (BWA), Insulet (PODD), Elanco Animal Health (ELAN), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS), Equinox Gold (EQX), Littelfuse (LFUS), Houlihan Lokey (HLI), Globalstar (GSAT), Snap Inc. (SNAP), Maplebear (CART), Dutch Bros (BROS), Zillow Group (Z), Zillow Group (ZG), Watts Water Technologies (WTS), Cognex (CGNX), Owens Corning (OC), Bio-Techne (TECH), Cirrus Logic (CRUS), Primerica (PRI), StoneX Group (SNEX), Kinetik Holdings (KNTK), Clear Secure (YOU), Matador Resources Company (MTDR), The Timken Company (TKR), UGI Corporation (UGI), SM Energy Company (SM), Ormat Technologies (ORA), Qiagen (QGEN), Amdocs (DOX), Core Scientific (CORZ), Mirum Pharmaceuticals (MIRM), Rayonier (RYN), Paycom Software (PAYC), Murphy Oil (MUR), Magnolia Oil & Gas (MGY), The Macerich Company (MAC), Bruker (BRKR), B2Gold (BTG), Black Hills (BKH), UWM Holdings (UWMC), Acushnet Holdings (GOLF), Oscar Health (OSCR), Energy Fuels (UUUU), Icahn Enterprises (IEP), Spire (SR), Tutor Perini (TPC), TG Therapeutics (TGTX), Victory Capital Holdings (VCTR), Remitly Global (RELY), Fastly (FSLY), Louisiana-Pacific (LPX), Radian Group (RDN), Reynolds Consumer Products (REYN), Cactus (WHD), The Brink's Company (BCO), Envista Holdings (NVST), EPR Properties (EPR), Helmerich & Payne (HP), Excelerate Energy (EE).
