US OPEN: Tech is looking for a reason to grow, diplomacy in the background

After strong gains in yesterday’s session, Tuesday’s trading is showing that positive sentiment is holding, but with much weaker upward momentum. Futures on the main US indices are again pointing to all-time high levels. Based on futures pricing today, US100 remains the leader on the upside, up about 0.4%.

• Among individual stocks, gains are standing out in selected technology companies and cruise-line stocks, which are being supported by expectations of a halt to hostilities in the strait.
• The persistence of bullish sentiment is strongly linked to growing optimism about the situation in the Middle East. Rumors emerged that the US might lift the blockade of Iranian ports, but the US has not confirmed the information and Iran has denied it.
• Japan’s Kyodo service published information about an alleged Iranian proposal under which Iran would halt the blockade of the strait in exchange for de-escalation by the US.
• Markets are increasingly focusing on diplomacy. The United Nations (UN) summit may prove important, and Thursday’s Xi-Trump meeting will be key, raising both hopes and concerns among many commentators.
• Improving sentiment is also confirmed by the bond market. US 10-year and 30-year bonds are seeing their current yields fall by about 0.4%.

Company news

• Alibaba (BABA.US): Shares are up 3.2% as the company launches what it says is the most powerful AI chip in China. The new accelerator is intended to compete with Nvidia products and to form the core of a major data-center buildout in the coming years.
• GameStop (GME.US): The stock gains 4% after CEO Ryan Cohen informed the US Securities and Exchange Commission about insider transactions in the company.
• Quest Diagnostics (DGX): Shares fall about 6% after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published new preliminary Medicare payment rates for laboratory services.
• Vicor (VICR.US): Shares rise about 11% after the company raised its forecast for third-quarter revenue growth to more than 20% quarter-on-quarter from around 10%. Management cites proceeds from a non-exclusive license for “Vertical Power Delivery” as the reason.
• Binance: The company purchased a USD 100 million stake in Circle Internet, an operator of platforms and solutions for blockchain technology.
• Shopify (SHOP.US): Meta announced an artificial intelligence partnership with the company. Shares are up about 8%.

Technical analysis of the US100 chart (D1)

Price on the chart has moved back above the key level around 30,100 points, quickly closing the gap up to the all-time high level, and also moving above the short-term downward trendline. Upward momentum may be supported by the MACD signal, but it is worth noting that RSI (14) is already approaching overbought levels. If buyers want to maintain the initiative, the level around 30,600 points becomes key in the current situation. Source: xStation5

Macroeconomic data

• The most important macroeconomic release will be the API report on weekly crude oil inventories. Market consensus expects a decline of about 0.5 million barrels, versus an increase of 7.1 million barrels last week.
• After trading begins in the US, speeches are expected from FOMC members Williams, Jefferson, and Barkin.