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Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on July 21, 2026 in New York City.
Spencer Platt | Getty Images
Stock futures fell early Wednesday as investors looked ahead to another busy day of corporate earnings, with several major technology and industrial companies set to report.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 24 points, or less than 0.1%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures were down 0.3% and 0.7%, respectively.
Earnings take center stage again on Wednesday, with reports due from ServiceNow, International Business Machines, Tesla, Texas Instruments, Alphabet and AT&T. Investors will be watching closely for updates on AI spending, cloud demand, corporate technology budgets and the outlook for the second half of the year.
Investors remain focused on whether strong demand for AI infrastructure and software will continue to justify elevated valuations across the technology sector as earnings season accelerates.
"Q2 earnings season is ramping up, but with most hyperscalers yet to report, the market is still waiting for the definitive read on how AI investment is being monetized and translated into future capital spending," said Julia Hermann, global market strategist at New York Life Investment Management.
The major U.S. averages snapped a three-session losing streak on Tuesday, supported by better-than-expected earnings from blue-chip companies including 3M and General Motors, which helped ease concerns about the health of corporate America. Chipmakers also fueled the rally, with the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) climbing 4% as investors rotated back into artificial intelligence-related names.
Fed rate hike bets increase as oil jumps
Investor attention is also attuned to developments in the Middle East after U.S. Central Command carried out its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran.
Oil prices jumped in early trading after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in the Philippines on Wednesday that Iran is "not serious about talks."
If they're serious, we're serious. If they're not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies," he said.
Rubio added Wednesday that the strait — a critical shipping route for oil and other vital commodities — remains a sticking point in bilateral talks, alleging that Iran "demands the right" to control the waterway. Allowing this to happen would set "a very dangerous precedent" for the world, he argued.
Oil extended its recent rally as escalating tensions in the Middle East raised concerns about potential supply disruptions. Shortly before 5 a.m. ET, global benchmark Brent crude futures for July delivery were 3.5% higher at $94.20, paring earlier gains. Front-month U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 3.8% to trade at $87.56.
As of Wednesday morning, money markets were pricing in a 24.1% chance of a rate hike from the Fed this month, and a 69% chance of at least a quarter-point hike in September, according to the CME's FedWatch tool.
34 Min Ago
Airbus stock jumps 7% after guidance hike, share buyback
Shares of Airbus rose as much as 7% in morning trading after the aircraft manufacturer provided a business update on Tuesday after markets closed.
"Airbus disclosed a mid-term guidance that aligned well with current market expectations," said Deutsche Bank analyst Christophe Menard. "The positive surprise, however, came from the €5 billion three-year share buy-back."
Airbus now targets adjusted earnings before interest and tax of between 12 billion euros and 13 billion euros ($13.6 billion to $14.8 billion) in 2029, indicating commercial growth will not flatten out with wide-body aircraft and service growth in the cards.
Full-year 2026 guidance remains unchanged.
— Elsa Ohlen
47 Min Ago
Oil prices jump 4% as Rubio says Iran ‘not serious’ about peace talks
Oil prices were 4% higher on Wednesday morning following the 11th consecutive round of U.S. strikes against Iran overnight, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Strait of Hormuz remains a sticking point between the two sides.
Shortly after 4 a.m. ET, global benchmark Brent crude futures for July delivery were almost 4% higher at $94.23. Front-month U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 3.8% to trade at $87.46.
— Chloe Taylor
2 Hours Ago
Taiwan tech rally lifts Taiex as China, Hong Kong stocks retreat
Taiwan's Taiex climbed 1.34% to close at 44,825.78, led by technology stocks. AI server maker Wiwynn and memory chip producer Nanya Technology both surged 10%. TSMC however declined 0.41%
Mainland China's CSI 300 slipped 0.46% to 4,717.24.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 1% as of 3.17 a.m. ET.
—Lee Ying Shan
2 Hours Ago
Equinor profit surges as CFO warns Europe gas market in a 'very fragile' situation
Although it is involved in renewable energy projects, Equinor is a major producer of fossil fuels. The Norwegian state has a 67% holding in the company.
Hakon Mosvold Larsen | Afp | Getty Images
Equinor Chief Financial Officer Torgrim Reitan warned Wednesday that Europe is unlikely to reach its gas storage target ahead of winter, saying the region finds itself in a "very fragile" situation.
His comments come as energy market participants closely monitor a resumption in Middle East hostilities and a steep fall in traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
"Even if, sort of, things normalize around Hormuz and we get back to normal trade flows, we do not believe that Europe will get to the target level of 80% storage fills before the winter," Reitan told CNBC's " Europe Early Edition" on Wednesday.
The Norwegian oil and gas major reported adjusted earnings before tax for the second quarter of $11.48 billion, in line with expectations and up sharply from $6.53 billion from a year ago.
The results were boosted by a surge in fossil fuel prices as the U.S.-Iran conflict continues to disrupt global energy supplies.
— Sam Meredith
2 Hours Ago
European stocks fall at the open
European shares opened in negative territory on Wednesday morning, as corporate earnings and the U.S.-Iran war remained in focus.
Shortly after the opening bell, the pan-European Stoxx 600 was almost 0.4% lower, with most sectors and all major bourses in the red.
Oil and gas stocks bucked the trend, rising as oil prices rallied amid a further escalation of fighting in the Middle East.
— Chloe Taylor
3 Hours Ago
Defense shares rally after UK government shake-up — analysts name the stocks to watch
Britain's former defense secretary John Healey leaves 10 Downing Street in London July 20, 2026 as cabinet appointments are being made after Andy Burnham became Britain's new Prime Minister.
Henry Nicholls | Afp | Getty Images
In a surprise move late on Monday, John Healey was announced as newly minted Prime Minister Andy Burnham's finance minister.
Just weeks earlier, Healey resigned from his role as defense minister, citing government unwillingness to spend sufficiently on security "at this time of rising threats."
As investors took Healey's new role as a sign that the government will commit to higher defense spending, analysts and market watchers told CNBC which stocks they were watching.
— Chloe Taylor
3 Hours Ago
UK inflation cools to lower-than-expected 2.6% in June
A tourist shelters under an umbrella next to a souvenir stand on Westminster Bridge during a heat wave in London, UK, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Chris J. Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images
U.K. inflation cooled to 2.6% in the 12 months to June, slightly lower than expected.
Economists polled by Reuters had been expecting the annual inflation rate to reach 2.7% in June.
The U.K.'s inflation rate dropped to 2.8% in April and held at that level in May, with the government-regulated price cap on energy bills softening the full impact of the Iran war on the energy market.
The price cap is due to rise by 13% later this summer, when energy costs will hit a 2-year high.
June's U.K. inflation print came in lower than the euro zone's 2.8% reading for June, and well below the U.S. inflation rate of 3.5% for June.
— Chloe Taylor
4 Hours Ago
Samsung reportedly looking to invest in Mistral; shares up 4% amid broader tech gains
Shares of Samsung Electronics rose over 4% on Wednesday amid a broader rise in tech stocks in the region.
The company is also reportedly in talks to invest hundreds of millions of euros in artificial intelligence startup Mistral. The move is part of a funding round that could value the French company at about 20 billion euros ($22.8 billion), the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Shares of domestic rival SK Hynix were up over 5%.
Japanese chip stocks were also higher, with Advantest climbing 2.8% and Tokyo Electron adding 1.8%. Renesas Electronics and Softbank Group added over 6% and 1.1% respectively.
—Lee Ying Shan
5 Hours Ago
Oil advances as Middle East tensions escalate with fresh U.S. strikes
Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday as concerns over supply disruptions persisted after U.S. forces launched a fresh round of strikes on Iranian military targets.
Brent crude futures for September delivery gained 1.2% to $92.1 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures added 1.09% to $85.26.
The renewed military exchanges come as mediators are reportedly seeking to revive diplomacy, having presented Washington and Tehran with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire.
—Lee Ying Shan
5 Hours Ago
Topsports shares drop over 20% as Nike seeks to cut online sales in China from 2027
Hong Kong-listed shares of Topsports fell more than 20% Wednesday, after the Chinese sportswear retail operator received a notice from Nike to terminate its online sales of Nike products in mainland China from 2027.
"The short term negative impact of the termination on the Group's business would be significant," Topsports said in a filing, noting that online sales of Nike's products made up around 22% of its total revenue for the fiscal year ended Feb. 2026.
However, the company will continue to work closely with Nike in "offline retail operations, local consumer service, and deep market development across city tiers," according to Topsports CEO Yu Wu. "Topsports has worked with Nike for 27 years based on the principle of mutual benefit and shared growth," Wu added.
Nike is planning to cut thousands of online distributors in China and reorganize its online presence to create consumer experiences of better consistency.
Topsports, which is Nike's largest distributor in mainland China, has long-term partnerships with more than 20 leading sports brands, according to the company's website.
— Justina Lee
6 Hours Ago
HSBC warns of looming $150 billion lock-up expiries in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.66%, while mainland China's CSI 300 rose 0.15% Wednesday.
Herald van der Linde, HSBC's head of equity strategy for Asia-Pacific, said investor inflows have returned to China-related equities in Hong Kong, driven by improving sentiment toward China's nascent property recovery and selected sectors of the economy. The Hang Seng Index has climbed more than 9% month to date, according to LSEG data.
However, he cautioned that the market faces a significant test later this year as roughly $150 billion of IPO lock-up expiries are due in October and November. Lockup expiries allow early investors and insiders to begin selling previously restricted shares.
"It doesn't mean that these people have to sell. It's just that they can sell," he told CNBC's " Squawk Box Asia," adding that while there is "sufficient amount of cash" in China and Hong Kong to absorb the supply, the upcoming expiries remain "some clouds hanging there that we need to deal with in October and November."
— Lee Ying Shan
8 Hours Ago
Japanese finance minister says ready for 'decisive action' as yen hits four-decade low
The Japanese yen on Wednesday weakened to a four-decade low of 163.15 per dollar, with Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama saying that the country was ready to take "decisive action" on forex, if needed, Reuters reported.
"Intervention risks are basically a reality every day," said Dominic Schnider, head Commodities and APAC Forex at UBS. He told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" that Japan's authorities are likely to remain on alert over excessive yen weakness, but argued strong action from the Bank of Japan would be needed to stabilize the currency.
Schnider added that a 25-basis-point rate increase "will not change the big scheme of things," and highlighted that the BOJ needs to signal that "savers are going to get better real rates," a move he said could help the yen "easily stabilize."
—Lee Ying Shan
9 Hours Ago
Japan exports and imports grow at fastest pace since November 2022, beating estimates
Japan exports in June grew at their fastest pace since November 2022, rising 19.3% from a year earlier, powered by shipments of semiconductor equipment and a weak yen.
Exports growth beat expectations of an 18.6% rise from economists polled by Reuters, and was higher than the 16.8% seen in May.
Shipments to Asia rose 22.7%, most notably seeing a 46.4% jump in exports to Taiwan compared to the same period last year. Exports to China, Japan's largest trading partner, increased 17.6%, while shipments to the U.S. climbed 13% year on year.
Read the full story here.
—Lim Hui Jie
9 Hours Ago
Asia-Pacific stocks open higher; Kospi jumps 5%
Asia-Pacific markets opened in the green on Wednesday. South Korea's Kospi led gains in the region, advancing over 5% while the Kosdaq rose 2%.
Japan's Nikkei 225 added 0.34%, and the Topix was little changed.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.12%.
— Lee Ying Shan
10 Hours Ago
Asia-Pacific markets set to open subdued as investors assess U.S. strikes on Iran, ceasefire efforts
Asia-Pacific markets were set for a mixed open on Wednesday as investors monitored the latest U.S. strikes on Iran and renewed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, with the Middle East conflict continuing to cloud the outlook for energy markets.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 67,145 against the index's last close of 66,232.19.
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Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index last traded at 24,978, lower compared to the index's last close of 25,132.29. Futures for Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 were last at 8,763 compared to the indexes close of 8,793.3.
— Lee Ying Shan
11 Hours Ago
Pegasystems shares fall 12% after disappointing results
Pegasystems shares tumbled about 12% in extended trading after the software company reported second-quarter results that fell short of Wall Street expectations.
Adjusted earnings came in at 35 cents per share, below the 43 cents analysts had projected, according to FactSet. Pegasystems said rapid and "unprecedented" changes in the artificial-intelligence market prompted some customers to delay purchasing decisions.
— Yun Li
11 Hours Ago
Super Micro Computer shares pop 17% after solid preliminary results
Super Micro Computer shares surged about 17% in extended trading after the server maker reported preliminary fourth-quarter results that featured much stronger profitability than investors had expected, offsetting revenue that came in near the low end of its guidance, according to FactSet.
The company said gross margins are expected to be between 15% and 17%, well above its prior forecast of 8.2% to 8.4%, citing a more favorable mix of customers and products, according to FactSet.
Super Micro also said its backlog climbed to a record level at the end of fiscal 2026 after receiving more than $60 billion of new orders during the quarter, providing a strong indication that demand for its AI-optimized servers remains robust and is expected to support revenue growth over the coming quarters.
— Yun Li
11 Hours Ago
Jamie Dimon says he wouldn’t buy stocks or Treasurys at current prices
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said investors are underestimating geopolitical and fiscal risks that could eventually rattle markets. He said he wouldn't be a buyer of either equities or long-dated U.S. Treasurys at current prices.
"I do think those risks are probably bigger than other people think," Dimon said, pointing to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, tensions between the U.S. and China, and rising military spending in a time of mounting government deficits.
— Hugh Son
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