01 Stock Market
As of Mar 18, U.S. stock index futures performed as follows: Dow futures edged higher, up roughly 0.20%; Nasdaq 100 futures gained about 0.27%; and S&P 500 futures advanced near 0.19%. Strength in semiconductor-linked names helped underpin risk appetite, with markets focusing on AI hardware momentum and related supplier updates into the opening bell.
Notable Stock Movers: Semiconductor leaders were bid pre-bell, alongside select China ADRs and data-center suppliers. MU up 1.34% at $467.88; NVDA up 0.67% at $183.15; optical gear maker AAOI up 10.54% at $95.43; cloud operator KC up 17.45% at $15.41; lasers and materials player COHR up 4.56% at $257.00; mega-cap peers AAPL up 0.22% at $254.80 and TSLA up 0.37% at $400.75; space company RKLB down 3.61% at $75.75.
Elsewhere, chip bellwethers and cyclicals were mixed to higher while some crypto-exposed names eased. TSM up 0.87% at $349.00; AMD up 0.75% at $197.79; INTC up 0.77% at $44.40. Among China ADRs, VNET up 9.22% at $10.19 and KC up 17.45% at $15.41, while LI fell 4.40% to $17.18. Crypto exchange COIN down 1.01% at $208.10.
02 Other Markets
• 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 0.08%, to 4.21%.
• U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.05% to 102.9.
03 Key News
1. NVIDIA announced new AI data center hardware and expanded ecosystem partnerships, lifting supplier sentiment. The company detailed next‑generation accelerators and software frameworks alongside collaborations with major cloud and server OEMs. Management highlighted stronger inference and training performance, reinforcing capital spending plans at hyperscalers and boosting related semiconductor and optics names in pre-market trading.
2. Applied Optoelectronics disclosed an expanded supply agreement for high‑speed optical transceivers, supporting revenue visibility. The company said new purchase commitments from a large cloud customer increase volumes for 800G products. Management indicated capacity additions are on track, and gross margin tailwinds are expected as mix shifts toward higher-value data center optics.
3. Kingsoft Cloud reported improved operating metrics and a strategic data center alliance, sending ADRs higher. The company cited cost controls and workload growth in AI‑adjacent services, while a newly announced partnership aims to broaden compute availability. Management reiterated its path toward profitability, with capex disciplined around high‑utilization facilities.
4. VNET unveiled a financing and asset optimization plan to strengthen liquidity and streamline operations. The data‑center operator said it secured new funding and is evaluating non‑core disposals to reduce leverage. The company expects the moves to lower interest expense and focus resources on high‑return cloud and AI infrastructure projects.
5. Coherent announced a multiyear silicon‑carbide capacity expansion and a long‑term supply agreement with an automotive customer. The company said the investment will increase substrate and epi output to meet EV power device demand. Executives noted the contract provides volume certainty, supporting stable pricing and better fixed‑cost absorption.
6. Rocket Lab updated its launch manifest and disclosed a new government payload contract, while adjusting near‑term schedules. The company said the award adds backlog and strengthens defense relationships, even as some missions are rescheduled for integration readiness. Management reaffirmed full‑year launch targets subject to customer payload timing.
7. Apple rolled out software adjustments to keep select Watch models on sale in the U.S., mitigating patent‑related risks. The company said changes address contested functionality and allow continued distribution while legal processes proceed. The workaround aims to avoid inventory disruptions and preserve market share in premium wearables.
8. Tesla implemented targeted price changes in key markets to stimulate orders amid ongoing delivery balancing. The automaker said adjustments reflect input costs and currency dynamics, with marketing emphasizing total cost of ownership. Management continues to prioritize margin discipline, supported by software and energy revenue growth.
9. U.S. Federal Reserve released industrial production data showing mixed trends across manufacturing and utilities. The report highlighted strength in select durable goods offset by softer output in energy‑sensitive categories. Markets weighed implications for capacity utilization and pricing pressures ahead of upcoming policy signals.
10. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission brought an enforcement action against a digital asset platform over compliance deficiencies. The agency alleged unregistered securities offerings and inadequate customer protections. The case underscores ongoing regulatory scrutiny of crypto intermediaries and may prompt broader industry compliance efforts.
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Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not investment advice.
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