U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Tech Rally Cools and Intel Slides on Weak Outlook

U.S. stock index futures steadied on Thursday evening, pausing after a strong two-day rebound on Wall Street that was driven by gains in technology stocks and easing geopolitical concerns tied to President Donald Trump’s comments on Greenland. While broader market sentiment remained resilient near record highs, individual stocks such as Intel weighed on after-hours trading due to disappointing forward guidance.

By early evening trading, S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1% to 6,940.25 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures slipped nearly 0.2% to 25,610.0 points. Dow Jones futures were also modestly lower, falling close to 0.1% to 49,524.0 points. The slight pullback reflected a cooling in momentum after Wall Street recouped much of its recent losses earlier in the week.

Intel Corporation emerged as a notable laggard in extended trade, with shares plunging more than 13% after the chipmaker issued weaker-than-expected guidance for the current quarter. Although Intel reported December-quarter earnings that topped estimates, investors focused on its forecast for breakeven earnings per share and revenue guidance that fell short of analyst expectations. The company also warned that its chip supply would be at its lowest level in the first quarter before improving later in the year, underscoring ongoing challenges as it restructures operations and invests in advanced manufacturing to compete in the artificial intelligence-driven semiconductor market.

Earlier on Thursday, U.S. stocks closed higher after Trump softened his stance on Greenland, announcing a framework trade deal and backing away from threats of tariffs or military action involving the Danish territory. This reversal helped ease global market jitters and supported risk appetite. Technology stocks led the rally, fueled by continued optimism around artificial intelligence and upcoming earnings from major tech companies.

Meta Platforms jumped nearly 6% after Jefferies reiterated the stock as a top pick ahead of its earnings report next week. Other heavyweight tech names including Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, and Amazon are also set to report soon, keeping investor focus firmly on the sector. Looking ahead, markets will closely watch the Federal Reserve meeting next week, where interest rates are widely expected to remain unchanged amid uncertainty over the U.S. economic outlook.