U.S. stock index futures inched higher on Wednesday as chipmakers and market-leading growth stocks rebounded in light trading ahead of crucial economic data, commentary from the Federal Reserve's policymakers and a long holiday weekend.
Market Snapshot
At 07:50 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were up 173 points, or 0.44%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 21.5 points, or 0.41%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 78.75 points, or 0.43%.
Pre-Market Movers
GameStop (GME) - GameStop reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue that missed estimates and shares of the videogame retailer were tumbling 18% in premarket trading. GameStop reported adjusted earnings of 22 cents a share, below analysts’ projections of 30 cents. Revenue of $1.79 billion fell 19% from a year earlier and missed estimates of $2.05 billion. Software sales in the period declined 31% to $465 million.
Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) - Trump Media & Technology Group was up 14% in the premarket session after closing with a gain of 16% on Tuesday in its first day of trading. Shares of Donald Trump’s social-media company, which houses the Truth Social platform, rose as much as 59% on Tuesday.
NIO (NIO) - Chinese electric-vehicle maker Nio lowered its forecast for first-quarter deliveries on Wednesday, as it grapples with slowing demand and a price war in China. The company expects to deliver around 30,000 vehicles in the first quarter, compared with its prior forecast of 31,000 to 33,000. Its U.S.-listed shares fell around 4% in premarket trading.
Tesla (TSLA) - Tesla Stock climbs another 1% in premarket trading Wednesday after gaining 2.9% on Tuesday. Tesla will give a one-month trial of its driver-assist technology Full Self-Driving (FSD) to existing and new customers in the United States, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the company's website.
Merck (MRK) - Merck was rising 4.8% after Winrevair, the company’s treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Merck paid $11.5 billion in 2021 for the company developing the medicine.
Moderna (MRNA) - Moderna said on Wednesday it has entered into an agreement with private equity firm Blackstone's life science investment platform for a funding of $750 million to develop its mRNA flu vaccines. Shares of Moderna rose 4.7% in premarket trading.
Novocure (NVCR) - Novocure said on Wednesday that its cancer therapy met the main goal of a late-stage trial testing it as a treatment for a type of lung cancer. Novocure shares soared 30.2% in premarket trading.
nCino (NCNO) - Shares of nCino jumped 12% after the financial-technology company reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of 1 cent a share versus analysts’ expectations that called for a loss of 12 cents. Revenue of $123.7 million rose from $109.2 million a year earlier.
Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) - Direct Digital Holdings dropped 46.1% in premarket trading after the advertising and marketing technology platform reported a fourth-quarter loss of 8 cents a share while analysts were expecting a profit of 26 cents.
Bowman Consulting Group (BWMN) - Bowman Consulting Group announced on Tuesday the commencement of an underwritten public offering of up to $50M of shares of its common stock. Shares of BWMN sank 11.4% in premarket trading Wednesday.
Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) - Viking Therapeutics shares gained 2.4% in premarket trading Wednesday. Shares of Viking Therapeutics surged 16.8% on Tuesday after the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company reported positive results from an early study of an oral formulation of its proposed VK2735 obesity drug.
Shockwave Medical (SWAV) - Shares of Shockwave Medical were up 1.4% after The Wall Street Journal reported Johnson & Johnson was in talks to acquire the medical-device maker. The Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, said a deal could be completed in the coming weeks and noted that an acquisition could be sizable. Shockwave had a market value of around $11 billion before the Journal’s report and it rose to closer to $12 billion after the stock jumped 10% on Tuesday.
Progress Software (PRGS) - Progress Software posted better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter revenue but said it expects second quarter adjusted profit of 93 cents to 97 cents a share on revenue of between $166 million and $170 million. The bottom- and top-line forecasts were below Wall Street estimates. Shares fell 0.7%.
Market News
Apple to Hold Annual Developers Conference June 10-14
Apple will hold its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 10 to June 14, it said on Tuesday, amid reports that the iPhone-maker was in talks for AI partnership and could unveil significant changes to the iOS.
The event, which will be available online, will highlight updates to the software powering iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices, the company said. Some developers and students will be invited in-person at Apple Park on the opening day, it added.
Investors are closely watching for updates on artificial intelligence development at Apple, which has so far spoken little about incorporating the technology into its devices. The company earlier this year lost the crown as the world's most valuable company to Microsoft.
Xi Meets US CEOs, Seeking to Boost Confidence in China’s Economy
President Xi Jinping met with a group of American business executives in Beijing including Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman and Qualcomm Inc.’s Cristiano Amon as China is seeking to restore confidence in the economy and keep relations with the US on a stable footing.
The Chinese leader on Wednesday met with representatives from American business, strategic and academic communities, the official Xinhua News Agency said. State broadcaster CCTV named a number of executives present at the meeting and said Xi took a group photo with the participants before the meeting.
China is seeking to show it welcomes foreign businesses, but whipsawing tensions with Washington, a shaky economic recovery and raids on consulting firms have damped investor enthusiasm. For global executives, the meeting was a chance to underscore interest in participating in the giant Chinese market despite deepening geopolitical tensions and moves in China to favor local competitors.
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