Why are US stock futures rising today? Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq rebound, but will midterm elections hit Wall Street? Apple, Nvidia, Intel and AMD to watch

US stock futures pointed higher on Monday. Investors are watching Apple’s earnings and Tuesday’s midterm elections. Dow futures rose 311 points, or 0.60%, to 52,229. S&P 500 futures gained 0.53% to 7,654.50. Nasdaq futures added 0.84% to 28,773.50.

The move follows a hard October for tech shares. Lower oil prices also helped the mood.

US stock futures today: Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq rise - Apple, Nvidia, Intel and AMD to watch

Traders see Apple as the safer AI-era stock. Alphabet and Meta have spent tens of billions on datacenters and custom chips, and it is unclear when that spending will pay off. Apple has spent less, so its cash flow is still strong.


Apple shares have risen four months in a row and are up nearly 30% this year. The company’s value is now above $5 trillion, which makes it the world’s most valuable firm again.

John Ternus holds his first earnings call as CEO on Monday. Traders want to see if device sales and services can keep profits growing. Palantir and Berkshire Hathaway also report later in the day.

When politics is uncertain, investors often favor firms with steady cash. Apple fits that profile ahead of the vote. It was the only Magnificent Seven stock trading lower before the market opened.

Intel fell nearly 29% in its last session, its worst drop on record, after a weak forecast. AMD dropped almost 11% in sympathy. AMD reports on Tuesday, the same day Americans vote.

Premarket moves show a partial bounce. Nvidia rose 1.41% to $207.52, and SK hynix gained 4.67%. Intel slipped 0.27% to $65.58.

October split the market in two. The Nasdaq Composite lost more than 5%, and the S&P 500 fell 0.9%. The Dow gained 1.7% as money moved into steadier stocks. The Nasdaq 100 closed its last session down 3.46%.

What the midterms could mean for markets

Voters will fill all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats. President Trump and the Republican party face a tough race. Voters are unhappy about high gasoline costs and the conflict with Iran. One recent poll puts Trump’s approval at 31%.

Analysts say a Democratic win in the House, or in both chambers, could slow new laws. It could also make infrastructure spending harder to pass and add tension to debt-ceiling talks.

WTI crude fell 4.56% to $99.37, and Brent fell 4.46% to $108.37. Both are still near the top of their 52-week ranges. WTI is nearly 80% above its yearly low of $55.63. If fuel costs keep easing, that could take some pressure off the party in power.

The October jobs report is due Friday. Economists expect payrolls to rise by 55,000. Money markets see a 78% chance of a 25-basis-point rate increase in December. A weak or strong number could move those odds quickly.

Global markets and other assets

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.33% to 63,081.86, and South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.38% to 5,859.08. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.44%, and China’s CSI 300 added 0.79%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.58%.

In Europe, October manufacturing data beat forecasts. The eurozone PMI hit 52.7 against an expected 52.4, though it was below September’s 52.9. A reading above 50 signals growth.

Gold rose 0.36% to $3,912.90. Bitcoin slipped 0.50% to $77,788.92.

What to watch this week

• Monday: Apple, Palantir and Berkshire Hathaway earnings


• Tuesday: US midterm elections and AMD earnings


• Friday: October jobs report