Nvidia Earnings in Focus as U.S. Stock Futures Rise on Tariff Delay, Strong Consumer Data

U.S. stock index futures edged higher Tuesday evening, buoyed by optimism ahead of Nvidia’s earnings report and a combination of positive trade and economic developments. Futures gains followed a strong session on Wall Street, driven by President Donald Trump's delay of proposed tariffs on the European Union and a rebound in U.S. consumer confidence.

S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 5,939.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures added 0.1% to 21,476.75, and Dow Jones Futures climbed 0.1% to 42,465.0 as of 19:14 ET. Tech stocks led gains, with Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) jumping 3.2% in regular trading and holding steady after-hours. Investors are anticipating robust Q1 earnings from the AI chipmaker, which is expected to report earnings per share of $0.893 on revenue of $43.12 billion, driven by strong demand from hyperscale data center clients.

Nvidia’s outlook will be key for broader tech sentiment, particularly amid heightened U.S. export controls affecting sales to China. CEO Jensen Huang recently criticized these restrictions, forecasting China to eventually become a $50 billion market despite rising competition.

Meanwhile, Wall Street surged earlier in the day, with the S&P 500 gaining 2.1% to 5,921.54, the Nasdaq jumping 2.5% to 19,199.16, and the Dow climbing 1.8% to 42,343.65. Trump’s tariff delay softened fears of a trade war escalation, while May’s consumer confidence data—rebounding after five months of declines—bolstered optimism around economic resilience. The easing of trade tensions with China and ongoing negotiations with global partners further improved market sentiment.

All eyes now turn to Nvidia’s earnings, which are expected to set the tone for the AI and semiconductor sectors moving into the second half of 2025.