March S&P 500 E-Mini futures are up +0.17%, and March Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures are up +0.19% as investors analyze earnings reports from big U.S. tech companies. Meta Platforms plans to invest up to $135 billion this year, boosting the stock by +7% in pre-market trading. Tesla and Microsoft also saw movement.
Technology stocks led gains in U.S. equity futures, with Seagate Technology Holdings and Texas Instruments climbing after positive earnings reports. Carvana, however, plunged after a report raised concerns. On the Federal Reserve front, interest rates remained unchanged, with a post-meeting statement highlighting stabilization in the labor market.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted an improvement in the U.S. economic outlook and hinted at potential rate cuts. Investors await U.S. economic data and corporate earnings, focusing on Apple. U.S. rate futures predict an 86.5% chance of no rate change at the next FOMC meeting in March.
In the Euro Stoxx 50 Index, mining and energy stocks rose while technology stocks fell. SAP Se plunged over -14% after disappointing cloud revenue growth guidance. Eurozone business and consumer confidence data were released, showing improvements. Asian stock markets closed in the green, with China’s Shanghai Composite Index marking gains.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index saw its third consecutive gain, driven by liquor and real estate stocks. Japanese Nikkei 225 Stock Index closed slightly higher, led by Advantest and defense stocks. Pre-market U.S. stock movers include Meta Platforms, Tesla, Microsoft, IBM, and Las Vegas Sands. Today’s U.S. earnings spotlight features Apple, Visa, Mastercard, Caterpillar, and many more companies.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Stocks Rise Before the Open as Investors Weigh Big Tech Earnings, U.S. Economic Data and Apple Results in Focus