U.S. stock futures traded lower on Thursday as investors balanced another wave of corporate earnings with growing concerns over artificial intelligence spending and a fresh surge in oil prices. Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures each declined 0.2%, reflecting cautious sentiment ahead of another busy trading session. Market watchers are closely monitoring earnings reports and economic data for clues on the direction of Wall Street.
One of the biggest movers in pre-market trading was Alphabet, Google’s parent company, whose shares fell about 3% after the tech giant raised its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to as much as $205 billion. The increase signals the company’s commitment to expanding its artificial intelligence infrastructure, but it also renewed investor concerns about the massive costs associated with the AI race. While demand for AI technologies continues to grow, shareholders remain cautious about whether these investments will deliver strong returns in the near future.
Global markets painted a more positive picture despite the uncertainty in the United States. Major Asia-Pacific indices ended the day in positive territory, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 gaining 0.46%, South Korea’s Kospi jumping an impressive 4.40%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.18%, and China’s CSI 300 closing 0.23% higher. The mixed performance highlights the contrasting investor sentiment across regions as markets respond to local economic developments and global risks.
Oil prices also climbed sharply after reports that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Saudi Arabia, while U.S. President Donald Trump issued fresh threats targeting Iranian infrastructure. Brent crude rose 2% to nearly $96 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate gained about 1.7% to trade above $88 per barrel. Analysts say the renewed geopolitical tensions have shifted investors’ focus back to inflation risks, with higher energy prices expected to put additional pressure on businesses and consumers alike.
Attention now turns to a packed earnings calendar, with major companies including American Airlines, T-Mobile, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and Dow scheduled to report before markets open, while Intel will release its results after the closing bell. Investors are also awaiting the latest U.S. weekly jobless claims report, which could offer fresh insight into the strength of the labor market. Together, corporate earnings, economic indicators and geopolitical developments are expected to shape market sentiment in the days ahead as investors navigate an increasingly uncertain economic landscape.
source: cnbc
