01 Stock Market

As of May 1, U.S. stock index futures performed as follows: Dow Jones futures rose 0.28%, S&P 500 futures gained 0.19%, while Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 0.10%. The modest advance in blue-chip and broad-market contracts contrasts with a mild pull-back in technology-heavy benchmarks, suggesting investors are balancing optimism over upbeat earnings against selective profit-taking after April’s robust rally.

Notable Stock Movers: RDDT up 12.07% at $165.00, buoyed by stronger advertising trends; AAPL up 3.65% at $281.26 after projecting double-digit revenue growth; NVDA up 0.83% at $201.22 as AI hardware demand stays firm; in contrast, memory specialists faced selling pressure, with SNDK down 5.66% at $1 034.47 and WDC down 7.48% at $402.01 despite upbeat outlooks. Semiconductor bellwether INTC fell 1.83% at $92.75 as investors locked in April’s triple-digit gains, while gaming platform RBLX dropped 23.59% at $42.23 after trimming its full-year bookings target.

Pre-market trading remains earnings-driven: upbeat technology and consumer names attract fresh bids, whereas profit warnings and cyclical headwinds trigger sharp reversals in selected shares. With major indices perched near record territory, today’s cash session will test whether positive corporate surprises can offset lingering concerns over valuation and the pace of economic growth.

02 Other Markets

• 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 0.19%, to 4.38%.

• U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.12% to 97.97.

• WTI crude oil futures fell 1.01% to 104.01 USD/barrel; COMEX gold futures fell 0.89% to 4 588.60 USD/ounce.

03 Key News

1. Apple projected double-digit revenue growth and launched a new $100 billion share-buyback program. Management cited exceptional demand for the latest iPhone 17 lineup and the affordable MacBook Neo as key drivers of resilient sales despite industry-wide chip constraints. Gross margin guidance remained above market expectations even after management flagged higher memory costs, underscoring Apple’s pricing power and efficient supply-chain management.

2. Chevron beat consensus earnings as elevated crude prices lifted upstream profits. Adjusted first-quarter earnings reached $1.41 per share, helped by a 4% rise in exploration-and-production income. Despite derivative timing headwinds that weighed on overall net income, the company reaffirmed plans for up to $20 billion in 2026 share repurchases, highlighting confidence in cash-flow resilience.

3. Exxon Mobil exceeded adjusted profit forecasts even as unadjusted net income hit a five-year low. Excluding logistics and derivative timing effects linked to Middle-East disruptions, core earnings rose on higher production from the Permian and Guyana. Management emphasized that timing-related losses should unwind over coming quarters and reiterated disciplined capital-spending plans.

4. Moderna topped revenue expectations on strong international COVID-19 vaccine demand. First-quarter sales reached $389 million, far above analyst views, as partnerships in Europe and Canada offset softer U.S. uptake. The biotech reiterated guidance for up to 10% annual revenue growth and highlighted regulatory momentum for its mRNA-based flu shot and personalized cancer vaccine programs.

5. Estee Lauder raised its full-year organic sales outlook after a better-than-expected quarter. The “Beauty Reimagined” strategy, focused on premium launches and supply-chain efficiencies, revived demand in China and Europe, prompting management to lift its growth target to the high end of prior ranges. The cosmetics group also expanded planned job reductions to as many as 10 000 positions to fund innovation and marketing.

6. Veeva Systems will join the S&P 500, replacing Coterra Energy. The life-sciences cloud-software provider’s inclusion becomes effective before trading on May 7, prompting index-tracking funds to acquire shares. Veeva’s market value stands near $25 billion, and the announcement propelled the stock more than 10% higher in pre-market dealings.

7. Atlassian hiked its annual revenue forecast and delivered a decisive earnings beat. The collaboration-software company credited rapid adoption of new AI-enhanced workflow tools and accelerating enterprise demand for a 25% surge in its share price before the opening bell, signaling investor confidence in sustained top-line momentum.

8. Reddit guided second-quarter revenue above Wall Street expectations, sparking renewed optimism. Management pointed to expanding use of AI-powered advertising formats that are improving engagement and monetization. The upbeat outlook drove the social-media platform’s stock more than 13% higher, adding to recent gains since its public debut.

9. Western Digital issued revenue guidance ahead of analyst estimates, citing robust AI-driven storage demand. The company highlighted long-term supply agreements and improving pricing power; however, profit-taking sent shares lower in pre-market trade as investors weighed the stock’s sharp advance over the past year.

10. Roblox slashed its annual bookings forecast due to increased investment in safety initiatives. The gaming platform said new content-moderation measures could temporarily slow user spending, triggering a share-price decline of more than 22% before the bell and raising questions about near-term growth trajectories.

Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not investment advice.