US Stock Market Outlook: Potential Iran Deal Boosts Futures; AI and Quantum Stocks Rise.

US Stock Futures Show Modest Gains Ahead of Thursday Trading

As of the latest update, US stock futures are slightly up, with the Dow futures rising by 0.14%, Nasdaq futures by 0.16%, and S&P futures by 0.09%.

Notable Movements in Tech Stocks

In pre-market trading, major tech stocks are mixed.

• Oracle (ORCL) is up over 2%.
• Microsoft (MSFT) has gained more than 1%.
• Micron Technology (MU) and ASML are down nearly 2%.

Chinese Stocks on the Rise

Most popular Chinese stocks are also seeing gains in pre-market trading:

• Baidu (BIDU) is up over 4%.
• Alibaba (BABA) has increased by more than 3%.
• NIO is up over 2%.

Quantum Computing Stocks Continue to Surge

Quantum computing stocks are maintaining their upward momentum:

• Hanaq Quantum Technologies (XNDU) and Arqit Quantum (ARQQ) are both up over 8%.
• D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) has risen more than 7%.

TSMC Reports Strong Q1 Earnings

TSMC (TSM) initially saw a rise in pre-market trading but later turned down by over 5%, now down 2.54%. The company reported a net profit of NT$572.5 billion for Q1 2026, a 58% year-on-year increase.

Elon Musk Pushes for Rapid Progress on Terafab

Elon Musk is accelerating the Terafab semiconductor project, seeking quick delivery of chip manufacturing equipment from suppliers like Applied Materials (AMAT) and Tokyo Electron.

FDA to Discuss Peptide Drug Regulations

Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) is up over 9% as the FDA plans to convene an expert panel in July to discuss the production of certain peptide substances.

Allbirds Stock Volatility

Allbirds (BIRD) saw a dramatic rise of 580% after announcing a pivot to AI computing, but is now down over 27% in pre-market trading.

JD.com Expected to Show Improvement

Research reports from Barclays, JPMorgan, and HSBC suggest that JD.com (JD) may show signs of recovery in its core business and reduced losses in its delivery segment.

Baidu's AI Developer Conference Announcement

Baidu (BIDU) is up over 4% ahead of its AI developer conference scheduled for May 13-14, focusing on AI infrastructure and productivity tools.

SK Hynix Plans US Listing

SK Hynix is targeting a US listing in June or July, aiming to raise approximately $10 billion.

AI Competition Heats Up Between Alibaba and Tencent

On April 16, Alibaba (BABA) and Tencent (TCEHY) both announced new AI products, indicating a competitive push in the AI space.

Market Sentiment Shifts Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Recent reports indicate that investors are refocusing on fundamentals rather than geopolitical tensions, with major banks reporting resilient consumer spending despite rising oil prices.

Goldman Sachs Enters Crypto Market

Goldman Sachs has applied to establish a Bitcoin covered call ETF, marking its first direct foray into cryptocurrency investments.