Futures-options traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange’s NYSE American (AMEX) in New York City, U.S. July 15, 2026.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
U.S. equity futures slipped early Thursday as investors weighed fresh earnings, artificial intelligence spending concerns and rising oil prices
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 43 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures dropped 0.2% and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.2%
Alphabet shares slid 3% in extended trading after the Google parent lifted its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures to as high as $205 billion, pointing to strong artificial intelligence demand. The increase comes as investors have grown more cautious in recent months about hyperscalers’ spending around the AI effort
In regular trading, the Dow fell 6.06 points, or 0.01%. The broad market S&P 500 lost 0.14%, and the tech heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.57%
Asia-Pacific markets ended higher Thursday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 closing at 0.46% higher. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 4.40%. Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.18%. Mainland China’s CSI 300 closed 0.23% higher
Oil prices rose Thursday after a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off Saudi Arabia and U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iranian infrastructure. Brent crude futures for September delivery gained 2% to $95.99 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures advanced around 1.7% to $88.27 per barrel
“Without an abundance of strong earnings as a distraction, investors’ attention has gravitated toward the war again,” said Hardika Singh, economic strategist at Fundstrat. “Those who had previously thought that oil prices have peaked are now being forced to redo the inflation math all over again. Now more than ever, pricing power remains key for companies if they want investors to reward them.”
On Thursday, investors are looking forward to another busy day of earnings. Dow, American Airlines, T-Mobile, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are on deck before the bell. Intel will report after the market close
Weekly jobless claims will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET
1 Hour Ago
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advances 1%, Mainland China’s CSI 300 ends higher
Mainland China and Hong Kong stocks rose Thursday, amid broad gains in Asian markets
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 1.02% in the last hour of its trade. The gains in Hang Seng were led by basic materials and industrials sectors, up 2.9% and 2.3%, respectively
Mainland China’s CSI 300 closed 0.23% higher at 4,728, with declines in real estate and tech capping gains
57 Min Ago
European stock markets tumble into the red
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was down 0.66% by 8:40 a.m. in London (3:40 a.m. E.T.) as the continent’s regional sectors and major bourses tumbled into the red
European energy stocks gained 0.94% as oil prices traded higher, and miners advanced 0.1%, while all other sectors retreated into negative territory
The Italian FTSE MIB led losses among bourses, falling 1.24%. The French CAC 40 dropped 0.92%, as Germany’s DAX fell 0.76%. The U.K. FTSE 100 was last seen 0.18% lower
— Hugh Leask
1 Hour Ago
South Korea’s Kospi jumps over 4%, Japan’s Nikkei also ends higher
South Korea’s Kospi led gains in Asian markets on Thursday, ending the day at 4.40% higher at 7,096.89. Samsung and SK Hynix, which are Kospi heavyweights, rose 3.65% and over 4%, respectively
Over in Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed 0.46% higher at 66,422.60, supported by financial stocks. Mitsubishi UFJ gained 2.24%, Mizuho Financial added 2.78% and Nomura gained 1.34%
Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.18% higher to 8,839
—Justina Lee
2 Hours Ago
European markets set to open Thursday’s trading in the red
A stock exchange trader in Frankfurt.
Boris Roessler | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
European stock markets are expected to open Thursday’s session in largely negative territory
Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.28% ahead of the start of trading
The U.K. FTSE 100 was 0.18% lower, while in France, the CAC 40 was set to open 0.21% down, with Germany’s DAX off some 0.43% lower
The Italian FTSE MIB is set to start trading some 0.22% lower
— Hugh Leask
2 Hours Ago
UniCredit eyes acquisition of Commerzbank in fourth quarter
UniCredit is aiming to acquire Commerzbank in the fourth quarter
Speaking with CNBC’s “Europe Early Edition,” UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel said the bank is happy with its position in Commerzbank, with the bank now closing in on full control of the German lender, having upped its stake to 48%
Orcel said the Italian bank is firing on all cylinders, having raised its full-year guidance after posting its best-ever second-quarter and first-half results Thursday
watch now
An acquisition of Commerzbank could occur “potentially” in the fourth quarter, Orcel told CNBC’s Carolin Roth
He said that the two banks remain “very different,” adding that a number of alignments need to occur before any full merger takes place
UniCredit said the Commerzbank deal has evolved from “an attractive financial investment” to a “strategic transaction of substantial industrial value creation.”
UniCredit’s net profit for the second quarter reached 2.9 billion euros ($3.3 billion), and 6.3 billion euros for the first half. Its full-year net profit target has been upgraded to more than 11 billion euros
— Hugh Leask
4 Hours Ago
Treasury yields little changed as Fed expected to keep rates intact
Treasury yields were little changed Thursday, as the probability of the U.S. Federal Reserve keeping rates intact in its meeting next week stayed high, though rate-hike bets have risen, according to the CME FedWatch tool
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield was flat at 4.661%. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note was also little changed at 4.304%
— Justina Lee
6 Hours Ago
Oil climbs after tanker struck off Saudi Arabia, Trump Iran threats
Oil prices rose on Thursday after a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off Saudi Arabia and U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iranian infrastructure in response to any attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations on Thursday Asia time posted on social media platform X a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile in the Red Sea. The strike sparked a fire onboard that the crew was fighting, although there were no reported casualties
Brent crude futures for September delivery gained 2% to $95.99 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures advanced around 1.7% to $88.27 per barrel
—Lee Ying Shan
7 Hours Ago
Macquarie to promote banking and financial services head Greg Ward as next CEO
Macquarie Group announced Thursday that Greg Ward, currently head of banking and financial services, will succeed Shemara Wikramanayake as CEO in November
A Macquarie veteran of three decades, Ward joined the firm in 1996 and was its global chief financial officer for 14 years, before taking on other roles in the company
Wikramanayake will retire effective Nov. 6, after serving in the role for eight years
Shares of Macquarie traded 0.87% higher Thursday.
—Jenny Lee
7 Hours Ago
Mainland China stocks are flat, Hong Kong shares slightly higher
Hong Kong and mainland China stocks were mixed, as investors continue to keep a close eye on developments in the Middle East, while focusing on the earnings season
Hang Seng index was 0.31% higher, while mainland China’s CSI 300 opened flat. Automakers will likely be in focus in the near term, following news that the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee had advanced a bipartisan legislation aimed at blocking Chinese-linked automakers and vehicle technology from the U.S
—Justina Lee
8 Hours Ago
Samsung Electro-Mechanics shares jump 8% on $200-million contract
Shares of Samsung Electro-Mechanics jumped more than 8% in early trading Thursday after the company disclosed in a filing that it had signed a 295.12 billion won ($200 million) contract to supply multilayer ceramic capacitors.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics did not name the other party. The one-year contract represents 2.6% of the company’s annual revenue and runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2027.
—Jenny Lee
8 Hours Ago
Uber cuts 10% of jobs in customer service segment: Bloomberg
Uber has cut 10% of jobs in its customer service segment, as part of a wider push to streamline its operations
The news follows reports that the food delivery and ride-hailing company is slashing 23% of jobs in its people division under the direction of President Jill Hazelbaker
“Changes are necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the People team and the enormous potential ahead of us,” according to an earlier memo by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi
Uber’s tech chief had said that the company exceeded its 2026 AI budget within four months, The Information had reported earlier
—Justina Lee
9 Hours Ago
South Korea’s Kospi leads gains as Asia markets open higher
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Thursday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 adding 0.55% while the Topix rose 0.22%
South Korea’s Kospi advanced 2.3% at open, while the small-cap Kosdaq climbed 1.42%
Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was 0.72% higher
—Justina Lee
9 Hours Ago
Futures for Japan’s Nikkei 225 trade 0.24% lower
Asia-Pacific markets were set to open subdued on Thursday, as investors keep an eye on Iran-U.S. tensions in the Middle East, while also focus on the earnings season
Japan’s Nikkei 225 was poised to rise, with the Chicago futures contract at 66,325, compared with the index’s previous close of 66,115.60
Hong Kong Hang Seng index futures were last at 24,997, higher than the index’s Wednesday close of 24,892.66
Futures for Australia’s S&P/ASX 200′s last traded at 8,839, while the index closed at 8,823
Tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, after President Donald Trump said every time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. will blow up an Iranian bridge or power plant. Trump’s comments come following the collapse of the Iran-U.S. ceasefire and the recent deaths of three American service members
—Justina Lee
11 Hours Ago
Stocks making the biggest moves after hours
Here are the stocks making the biggest moves after hours:
- Rollins — The pest control company dropped about 10% after second quarter results fell short of Wall Street‘s expectations.
- Shutterstock – The image, footage and music platform dropped 10% post-market after suspending its quarterly dividend. Former CEO Paul Hennessy stepped down effective immediately July 13, two weeks after Getty Images walked away from a deal to buy Shutterstock.
- Medpace Holdings — The provider of outsourced clinical development services to healthcare customers soared about 19% after second-quarter results topped Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimates.
For more, read our full list of movers here
— Tanaya Macheel
11 Hours Ago
Stock futures open lower
U.S. equity futures opened lower on Wednesday night
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 5 points, or 0.01%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.07% and 0,14%, respectively
— Tanaya Macheel
