US Market Outlook: Fed Minutes Awaited, Silver Rises, Chinese Stocks Up

Pre-Market Overview

On Tuesday morning, all three major U.S. index futures were flat. The Dow futures fell by 0.03%, the Nasdaq futures dropped by 0.06%, and the S&P 500 futures also decreased by 0.06%.

Notable Tech Stocks

In pre-market trading, tech stocks showed mixed results.

• ASML rose over 1%.
• Tesla (TSLA) and Micron Technology (MU) both increased by nearly 1%.

Chinese Stocks Performance

Most popular Chinese stocks saw gains in pre-market trading:

• Baidu (BIDU) surged nearly 5%, while Baidu Group-SW (09888.HK) in Hong Kong rose nearly 9%. The company is expanding its autonomous vehicle operations in the UK and its self-developed AI chip, Kunlun, is expected to enter mass production.
• NIO and Xpeng Motors (XPEV) both increased by over 3%.

Commodity Market

Silver rebounded over 5%, recovering some losses, while gold rose above $4,400 per ounce.

• Stocks related to gold, silver, and copper saw broad gains in pre-market trading.
• AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Gold Fields (GFI) rose over 4%, while Harmony Gold (HMY), Pan American Silver (PAAS), and Dolly Varden Silver (DVS) increased by over 3%.

Nvidia and Intel Collaboration

Nvidia completed a significant transaction, acquiring $5 billion worth of Intel shares at $23.28 per share, a 36% discount from Intel's closing price last Friday. This deal, approved by the FTC earlier this month, aims to integrate Intel's CPU chips into Nvidia's AI server systems.

Meta Acquires Manus

Meta Platforms has agreed to acquire the technology and core team of Singapore-based AI startup Manus, enhancing its AI capabilities. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has prioritized AI, investing billions in research and development.

Tesla's Robot Vision

Elon Musk envisions humanoid robots as a core driver of Tesla's valuation, with China potentially leading this initiative. Tesla's stock rose nearly 1% in pre-market trading amid rumors of upcoming contracts for its Optimus humanoid robot project.

Xpeng Motors Launch

Xpeng Motors announced the global launch of its revamped P7+ model, featuring a dual-power system. The vehicle will adhere to global production and safety standards and will be released in 36 countries.

Market Outlook

Goldman Sachs anticipates a continued bull market for U.S. stocks in 2026, despite volatility. The firm maintains an overweight position in large-cap stocks, benefiting from earnings growth.

Conclusion

As the market prepares for the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes, investors are closely monitoring economic indicators and potential policy shifts. The upcoming data is expected to provide insights into the Fed's stance on interest rates and employment data.