US Stock Market Preview: Trump Lockdown Countdown, Earnings Season Begins, Dow Futures Down.

US Stock Market Futures Decline Ahead of Monday Trading

As of the latest update, US stock market futures are collectively down, with the Dow futures falling by 0.96%, Nasdaq futures down by 0.66%, and S&P futures also down by 0.66%.

Major Tech Stocks Experience Pre-Market Declines

Prominent tech stocks are seeing declines in pre-market trading, with notable drops exceeding 1% for companies like Nvidia (NVDA), Micron Technology (MU), Amazon (AMZN), AMD, and Meta Platforms (META).

Mixed Performance Among Chinese Stocks

Chinese stocks are showing mixed results in pre-market trading. ASE Technology (ASX) and Kingsoft Cloud (KC) have risen over 5%, while NIO (NIO) is up more than 2%. Conversely, Li Auto (LI) has dropped over 2%, and Alibaba (BABA) and JD.com (JD) are both down by more than 1%.

SanDisk to Join Nasdaq-100 Index

SanDisk (SNDK) is up nearly 2% in pre-market trading after being announced as a replacement for Atlassian (TEAM) in the Nasdaq-100 Index, effective April 20, 2026. This inclusion is expected to enhance SanDisk's visibility and liquidity, potentially attracting significant institutional buying.

Apple’s AI Strategy and Market Position

Apple (AAPL) is adopting a strategy of combining in-house small models with outsourced larger models to avoid high capital expenditures. Despite Siri's potential, Apple faces structural risks in the agent ecosystem due to lagging architecture.

Meta's AI Developments

Meta Platforms (META) founder Mark Zuckerberg is deeply involved in AI strategy, dedicating 5-10 hours weekly to coding and training an AI digital avatar for real-time employee interaction. This initiative has led to a 7% increase in stock price.

NIO's Delivery Goals

NIO's CEO Li Bin expressed confidence in achieving a 40%-50% year-on-year increase in deliveries, as the company enters its third development phase.

Goldman Sachs Reports Pre-Market Decline

Goldman Sachs (GS) is down over 3% in pre-market trading, reporting Q1 revenue of $17.23 billion, a 14% year-on-year increase, with earnings per share at $17.55, up 24%.

Intel Partners with Musk on Terafab Project

Intel (INTC) announced its collaboration with Elon Musk on the Terafab chip project, which aims for a production capacity of one terawatt. This partnership is seen as beneficial for both parties, although it raises questions about Intel's competitive position against TSMC and Samsung.

Upcoming XChat Launch

Musk's X platform will launch the encrypted messaging app XChat on April 17, seen as a significant step towards creating a "Western version of WeChat."

US-Iran Tensions and Economic Implications

The US has announced a blockade on maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports, escalating tensions. Analysts warn that this could lead to increased oil prices and economic repercussions globally.

China's March Financial Data

In March, China's new social financing reached 5.23 trillion yuan, with new RMB loans at 2.99 trillion yuan. The M2 money supply grew by 8.5% year-on-year.

US Data Center Projects at Risk

Approximately 30% to 50% of the planned data center projects in the US may be delayed or canceled, highlighting a significant funding gap in the tech sector.

Q1 Earnings Outlook for S&P 500

The S&P 500 is expected to see a 19% increase in earnings per share, driven largely by Nvidia and Micron, amidst rising geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns.