MARKETS EDGE LOWER AS TARIFFS, EARNINGS & UNCERTAINTY COLLIDE
U.S. stock futures pointed lower early Tuesday as investors digested a wave of corporate earnings while bracing for the fallout from President Trumpโs latest trade moves.
The S&P 500 snapped its nine-day winning streak Mondayโits longest run in 20 yearsโafter Trump announced new 100% tariffs on foreign-made movies, hammering media giants like Netflix (NFLX) and Disney (DIS). Although thereโs hope the final policy wonโt be as aggressive as feared, traders are understandably cautious.
Economic data offered mixed signals:
- Theย U.S. services sectorโwhich makes up more than two-thirds of GDPโcame in stronger than expected.
- However, theย โprices paidโ metricย rose, suggesting the new tariffs couldย add inflation pressure.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed back on fears, claiming tariffs, deregulation, and tax cuts would more than offset short-term volatility. But markets are watching closely.
STOCK SPOTLIGHTS
Ford (F) โ Shares dipped in extended hours after the automaker slashed full-year guidance, citing uncertainty from the new tariffs.
- Q1 net income fell toย $471Mย from $1.3B YoY
- Revenue came in atย $40.7B, beating estimates
- CEO Jim Farley said companies with aย large U.S. footprint would benefit, but itโs still โtoo earlyโ to gauge competitive responses.
Ford joinsย GMย andย Stellantis (STLA)ย as theย Big 3 Detroit automakersย adjusting forecasts due to the shifting trade landscape.
Palantir (PLTR) โ Despite raising full-year guidance, shares sank in after-hours trading after quarterly results fell short of sky-high expectations.
- EPS: $0.13 (in line with estimates)
- Revenue: $883.9M (slightly above estimates)
- New FY guidance: $3.89Bโ$3.90B vs. $3.74Bโ$3.76B previously
PLTR is up 60% YTD, fueled by AI hype and government contract speculationโbut this report served as a reality check.
DoorDash (DASH) โ The delivery platform announced it will acquire Deliveroo (ROO) for ยฃ2.9B ($3.86B) in a major global expansion move.
- Deal offers Deliveroo shareholders a 44% premium
- DoorDash CEO Tony Xu: โWeโll now serve over 40 countries and 1 billion people.โ
This strengthens DoorDashโs footprint in Europe, where it battlesย Uber Eatsย andย Just Eat Takeaway.
ENERGY UPDATE
Oil bounced after OPEC+โs surprise production hike over the weekend triggered Mondayโs selloff.
- Brent:ย $61.58, +2.2%
- WTI:ย $58.44, +2.3%
Saudi Arabia and allies areย rapidly unwinding two years of cutsโraising questions about oversupply, even as demand cools.
TECHNICAL SPOTLIGHT โ QQQ ACTION
Monday saw more volatility as the $QQQ tech index hit an intraday high of 490.03 (failed breakout over the 200-day MA) before selling off hard into the close at 485.93.
- Key support levels: 485 & 480
- If broken, risk of a gap-fill down toย 477ย from May 1st
- Resistance: 490 remains the ceiling before we talk about 500 again
Stay alert for market-movingย tariff headlines,ย FOMC comments, orย rate decision surprises.
TODAYโS ECONOMIC DATA (ET):
- 8:30AMย โ Trade Balance, Exports & Imports (Mar)
- 12PMย โ EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook
- 1PMย โ 10Y Note Auction & Atlanta Fed GDPNow (Q2)
- 4:30PMย โ API Weekly Crude Oil Stock
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