United States stock futures traded in a mixed fashion on Wednesday evening (Thursday AEST), after major benchmarks extended gains for the second consecutive session during regular trade.
By 8:45 am AEST (10:45 pm GMT) Dow Jones Industrial Average futures eased 0.1%, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.1% apiece.
In after-hours trading, International Business Machines (IBM) declined 6.5% despite reporting better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and revenue. The tech giant chose to maintain its full-year guidance, which appeared to disappoint investors hoping for a more bullish outlook.
Southwest Airlines fell 1.8% after announcing plans to scale back its schedule in the second half of the year. The airline additionally withdrew its earnings before interest and taxes guidance for 2025 and 2026, citing ongoing operational challenges.
Chipotle Mexican Grill dropped 2.2% after the company reported a 0.4% decline in comparable restaurant sales for the first quarter.
In contrast, Texas Instruments gained 4.7% following a solid earnings beat. The chipmaker reported first-quarter earnings per share of $1.28, topping consensus estimates by $1.07, and revenue of $4.07 billion, ahead of the $3.91 billion forecast.
Earlier in the day, the broader market recorded a strong session: The Dow Jones Industrial Average the S&P 500 rose about 1.7%, the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.5%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained over 400 points.
Investor optimism has been buoyed this week by signs of a more conciliatory tone from President Donald Trump on U.S.-China trade relations. Trump said he is open to a less confrontational approach with Beijing and hinted that the current 145% tariff on Chinese imports could be lowered.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced the possibility of a breakthrough, stating that the U.S. has a “chance for a big deal” on trade.
Markets were also encouraged by Trump’s assurance that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell would remain in his position through the end of his term in May 2026.
Looking ahead, investors will turn their attention to earnings reports from Alphabet, Intel, and PepsiCo on Thursday. Key economic data, including durable goods orders and weekly jobless claims, will also be released in the morning.
