U.S. stocks were on track for a flat to slightly lower open Monday as investors geared up for a busy day of earnings across sectors, from pizza to semiconductors and sanitation.
S&P 500 futures fell 0.1% and the Russell 2000 declined 0.15%, while the Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average were flat. The VIX rose just over 2%, suggesting a slight uptick in market caution.
Treasury Secretary Bessent made the rounds on television over the weekend, trying to project optimism that a path forward on tariffs could still emerge, especially regarding Asian trade deals. His remarks came as the U.S. moves deeper into a 90-day tariff pause — now about 20% complete — and economic damage is already mounting.
U.S. farmers warn that the agriculture sector is in a “full-blown crisis,” according to CNBC, with mass cancellations of pork, hay, lumber, and other exports to China driving deep financial losses and layoffs across the industry.
Adding to the pressure, S&P 500 companies mentioned “worse” or “weaker” far more often than “better” or “stronger” during first-quarter earnings calls, with optimism hitting its lowest ratio since 2008.
Huawei is preparing to test a powerful new artificial-intelligence chip aimed at replacing some high-end Nvidia (NVDA+0.54%) products, The Wall Street Journal reports. The Ascend 910D processor represents a fresh push by China’s tech sector to build a self-sufficient semiconductor industry despite U.S. sanctions.
Nvidia stock slipped about 1.5% premarket on the news.
Domino’s Pizza (DPZ+2.86%) missed expectations on revenue but topped earnings forecasts, reporting adjusted EPS of $4.33 against estimates of $4.07. Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner highlighted the company’s ability to “control what is under its control” in a “challenging macroeconomic environment,” and celebrated progress under Domino’s “Hungry for MORE” five-year growth initiative.
U.S. same-store sales declined 0.5% for the quarter, while international same-store sales rose 3.7%, excluding currency impacts. Global net store count fell by 8, reflecting 17 net openings in the U.S. and 25 net closures internationally.
Domino’s stock was down about 2.5%, premarket.
Waste Management (WM+1.44%) reports earnings after the bell, with analysts scrutinizing margins and pricing power amid inflationary pressures. NXP Semiconductors (NXPI+1.73%) will offer an early glimpse into global chip demand, with a year-over-year earnings drop expected.
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS+0.83%) results could provide insight into how much R&D spending chipmakers are still willing to do in a tighter environment. On the real estate side, Welltower (WELL+2.29%) will test investor appetite for healthcare REITs in a high-rate environment. Roper Technologies (ROP+1.35%) rounds out the day’s lineup, with investors watching for signs of steady growth and M&A potential in the industrial software space.
Tuesday brings results from Visa (V+0.93%), Coca-Cola (KO+1.43%), Booking Holdings (BKNG+0.27%), and Novartis (NVS+1.90%). Visa is expected to post about 9% revenue growth to $9.55 billion, fueled by strong payment and cross-border volumes. While earnings are projected to come in slightly ahead of last year, investors will be watching closely for any signs of weakness in the outlook — particularly as new tariffs could weigh on consumer spending and international travel.
Later this week, Microsoft (MSFT+0.24%) and Meta (META-1.69%) report after the bell Wednesday, giving investors a read on cloud growth, AI momentum, and digital ad trends. Amazon (AMZN-1.08%) and Apple (AAPL+2.21%) are on deck Thursday, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A+1.88%) is set to follow on Friday, capping one of the biggest earnings weeks of the year.
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