US stock futures crawled upwards after a strong trading session on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 erased its losses for 2025.
Futures attached to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) rose 0.1%. Futures attached to the benchmark S&P 500 also saw 0.1% gains, (ES=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) inched up 0.2%.
On Tuesday, stocks mostly rose as April’s cool inflation report and easing trade tensions lifted investor sentiment. Chipamaker Nvidia (NVDA) powered the tech-led rally, boosted by an upcoming chip regulation overhaul and a new partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Read more: The latest on Trump’s tariffs
Since President Trump announced a 90-day truce on tariffs between the US and China, Wall Street has seen a notable turnaround in sentiment. Tuesday’s inflation report, which showed consumer prices rose at their slowest pace since 2021 despite trade whiplash in April, offered an additional sense of relief.
This relief was not initially reflected in Asian markets, as indexes across the region delivered a mixed performance on open despite the signs of easing trade tensions. As trade progressed throughout the day, many indexes saw significant positive change.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 (^N225) snapped a four-day winning streak, slipping 0.3%. South Korea’s Kospi (^KS11) edged higher, gaining 1.2%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 (^AXJO) hovered around the flatline.
In Greater China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (^HSI) jumped 1.7%, while the mainland’s CSI 300 (83188.HK) popped 1.1%
Earnings season, meanwhile, continues to be overshadowed by tariffs. American Eagle (AEO) became the latest company to withdraw guidance due to “macro uncertainty” on Tuesday, sending its stock tumbling in after-hours trading.
Companies set to report earnings on Wednesday include Sony (SONY), Coreweave (CRWV), and Cisco (CSCO).
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