U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Alphabet's Earnings Boost Tech Optimism

Alphabet Surges, Lifting Nasdaq Futures

U.S. stock index futures saw gains in evening trading on Tuesday, fueled by a sharp 5.5% rise in Alphabet Inc. shares after the tech giant reported better-than-expected earnings. Alphabet’s performance is anticipated to set a positive trend for other tech stocks, with Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple slated to release earnings in the coming days.

Tech Leads Gains as Broader Market Holds Back

S&P 500 Futures rose 0.2% to 5,883 points, with Nasdaq 100 Futures up by the same percentage to 20,737.25 points. Dow Jones Futures inched up 0.1% to 42,487 points. However, non-tech sectors remained cautious amid ongoing concerns about the upcoming 2024 presidential election and key economic reports due later this week.

Alphabet's AI Investments Show Results

Alphabet’s success in Q3 was partly due to its cloud services, which grew at their fastest pace in two years. These services were supported by advances in artificial intelligence and election-related ad revenue, particularly on YouTube. The company’s positive results buoy investor sentiment for tech.

Broader Market Mixed as Investors Eye Key Data and Election

The NASDAQ Composite closed 0.8% higher at a record 18,717.58 points on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 rose slightly, ending at 5,832.92. However, the Dow dipped by 0.4%, reflecting lingering caution. Investors remain watchful ahead of Thursday's Q3 GDP report and Friday’s PCE index and employment data, all of which could influence the Federal Reserve’s expected rate decision next week.