US Stock Market Outlook: Tensions in Iran, Powell Lawsuit, Gold and Silver Surge, AI Stocks Rise.

US Stock Futures Decline Ahead of Market Open

As of Monday morning, US stock futures are all down, with Dow futures falling by 0.7%, Nasdaq futures by 0.8%, and S&P 500 futures by 0.57%.

Pre-Market Movements in Tech Stocks

Notable tech stocks are experiencing declines, with Intel (INTC) down over 2%, and both AMD and Micron Technology (MU) dropping more than 1%.

Chinese Stocks Show Mixed Results

In contrast, many popular Chinese stocks are rising in pre-market trading, particularly AI application software. Kingsoft Cloud (KC) surged over 15%, Alibaba (BABA) rose more than 4%, and Baidu (BIDU) increased over 3%.

Precious Metals Reach New Highs Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Gold and silver prices have soared, with gold (XAUUSD) rising over 2% to surpass $4600, marking a $280 increase this month. Silver (XAGUSD) jumped over 6%, breaking the $85 mark, reaching a historic high.

Factors Driving Precious Metals Prices

This surge is attributed to rising geopolitical risks, including potential US interventions in Iran and increased military presence discussions in Greenland by European nations. Additionally, disappointing non-farm payroll data has heightened expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Pre-Market Gains in Precious Metal Stocks

Gold (LIST2110) and silver (LIST2093) related stocks are also up, with First Majestic Silver (AG) and Harmony Gold (HMY) rising over 7%, and Coeur Mining (CDE) and Endeavour Silver (EXK) increasing over 6%.

Apple Surpasses Samsung in Global Smartphone Market

Apple has reclaimed its position as the world's largest smartphone manufacturer, overtaking Samsung, which holds a 19% market share. Xiaomi ranks third with 13%. This marks Apple's first lead since 2011.

TSMC Expected to Report Record Profits

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) is projected to see a 27% increase in Q4 net profit, driven by strong AI demand. Analysts estimate a net profit of NT$475.2 billion (approximately $15.02 billion) for the quarter.

Google Partners with Retailers for AI Shopping Assistant

Google (GOOG) is collaborating with major retailers like Walmart (WMT) and Shopify (SHOP) to develop an AI shopping assistant named Gemini, which will allow customers to make purchases directly within the chat interface.

Walmart's Stock Movement

Walmart's stock is up nearly 4% in pre-market trading.

Trump vs. ExxonMobil: Tensions Rise

President Trump expressed frustration with ExxonMobil (XOM) executives who warned against investing in Venezuela, suggesting he might exclude the company from future investment initiatives.

Trump Proposes Credit Card Rate Cap

Trump has called for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates, threatening legal action against companies that do not comply. This has led to declines in several financial stocks, including Synchrony Financial (SYF) and American Express (AXP).

Tempus AI Reports Significant Revenue Growth

Tempus AI announced a projected 83% revenue increase for 2025, leading to a pre-market stock surge of over 13%.

Meta Platforms Complies with Australian Ban

Meta (META) has shut down over 550,000 accounts of users under 16 in compliance with Australian regulations, despite opposing the ban.

Trump Critiques Netflix's Acquisition of Warner Bros

Trump has voiced opposition to Netflix's (NFLX) acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), citing concerns over cultural dominance.

Airline Industry Consolidation

Loyalty Travel (ALGT) is acquiring Sun Country Airlines (SNCY) for $1.5 billion, with Sun Country's stock rising over 13% in pre-market trading.

Broader Market Trends

The market is reacting to various economic signals, including potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and geopolitical tensions affecting commodity prices.

Commodity Market Outlook

Experts predict a "super cycle" for commodities, driven by geopolitical risks and AI advancements, with significant gains in precious metals and energy sectors.

Goldman Sachs Forecasts Oil Price Trends

Goldman Sachs anticipates oil prices may decline this year due to oversupply but could rebound in 2027 as demand continues to grow.

Conclusion

The market is navigating through a complex landscape of geopolitical tensions, economic forecasts, and corporate developments, with significant implications for various sectors.