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Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq put rally on hold as Wall Street braces for start of data deluge

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US stock futures struggled for gains on Tuesday after the Dow’s (^DJI) latest record close, as Wall Street’s march back to record territory continued following last week’s tech sell-off.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) hovered above the flatline, with fresh all-time highs within reach. Meanwhile, contracts on the S&P 500 (ES=F) and the Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) also crept into the green, looking to build on back-to-back closing wins.

Investors appear to have regained confidence that tech stocks can maintain their rebound from a recent pullback tied to concerns around software and megacap names. Nvidia (NVDA) chipmaker TSMC’s (TSM) sales grew at their fastest rate in months in January, a solid sign of AI demand to rebut bubble fears.

The wait is now on for the release of December retail sales numbers on Tuesday morning, kicking off a flood of data that will provide a health check on the economy. Meanwhile, an ADP weekly employment lays the ground for Wednesday‘s all-important January jobs report, in high focus following last week’s signs of softening in the labor market. The latest Consumer Price Index reading is then due on Friday to give a look at inflation pressures.

Earnings season stays in focus, with Coca-Cola (KO) and Ford (F) both on Tuesday’s docket, arriving before the market open and after the close, respectively.

Meanwhile, gold (GC=F) and bitcoin (BTC-USD) remain on investors’ radar, with both assets leaning lower as they try to stabilize after last week’s sharp pullback. Bitcoin in particular has seen heavy volatility, driven by what one analyst called a “crisis of confidence.“

LIVE 5 updates

  • Gold holds above $5,000 as banks remain bullish after rout

    Gold (GC=F) is trading steady above $5,000 an ounce, holding onto a two-day gain after a historic sell-off,

    While many traders are debating whether prices have found a bottom, banks are staying upbeat on gold’s prospects. BNP Paribas strategist David Wilson said the precious metal may climb to $6,000 by the end of the year, as geopolitical risks persist and investors search for risk protection.

    Bloomberg reports:

    Read more here.

  • US plans Big Tech carve-out from next wave of chip tariffs

    The Financial Times reports:

    Donald Trump’s administration intends to spare companies including Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT) from forthcoming tariffs on chips as they race to build the data centers powering the AI boom.

    The commerce department is planning to provide US hyperscalers with tariff carve-outs, which would be tied to investment commitments made by Taiwan-based chip group Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM, 2330.TW), people familiar with the matter said.

    The exemption scheme underscores President Trump’s determination to impose tariffs on chips and incentivise US domestic chipmaking, while offering some relief for the companies powering the US’s rapid AI expansion, which rely heavily on imported semiconductors.

    Trump has used the threat of tariffs to push for more US manufacturing. But the administration has stopped short of applying broad tariffs on semiconductors from Taiwan, which would rock Big Tech’s AI supply chain.

    Read more here.

  • On Semiconductor stock slides after Q4 earnings miss

    On Semiconductor (ON) stock skidded in premarket trading on Tuesday, falling by 4%, after the company recorded lower profits in the fourth quarter than a year ago but said it’s seeing “signs of stabilization” in its key markets.

    The chipmaker reported earnings per share of $0.45 on revenue of $1.53 billion, missing earnings estimates of $0.59 per share and falling below earnings per share of $0.88 in the same period a year ago, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The company’s fourth quarter revenue was in line with estimates.

    The company saw annual sales declines across all of its business groups: Power Solutions, Analog & Mixed Signal, and Intelligent Sensing. Intelligent Sensing was the only segment that saw sales grow quarter over quarter, while Power Solutions and Analog & Mixed Signal sales fell 2% and 5%, respectively.

    For the first quarter, On Semiconductor expects revenue in the range of $1.43 billion to $1.53 billion, which has a midpoint below the consensus estimate of $1.5 billion. Adjusted diluted earnings per share are expected to be between $0.56 and $0.66; Wall Street expects $0.61.

  • Memory chip surging cost tanks profits across electronics companies

    Bloomberg reports:

    Read more here.

  • Japanese election result leads benchmark index surge, major gauges across region rise

    AP Finance reports:

    Read more here.