US stock market

US stock futures are being closely watched following President Trump's decision on Iran, with investors assessing the implications for oil prices, geopolitics and market stability. Coverage from financial outlets highlights uncertainty over how Middle East tensions will shape trading when markets open, as traders weigh the risk of escalation against hopes for de-escalation.

Citi is advising clients to treat the next stock market pullback as a buying opportunity, arguing that the rally driven by artificial intelligence stocks still has room to run. The bank's strategists point to momentum in the AI trade and suggest positioning ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections, a period markets often watch closely for policy and volatility risks. The call adds to an ongoing debate on Wall Street about whether AI-fueled gains can be sustained or whether valuations are stretched.

US bond yields continue to rise, yet retail traders show no sign of pulling back from equities, according to market commentary making the rounds. The contrast between higher borrowing costs and sustained appetite for stocks is drawing attention, with observers questioning how long the disconnect can hold given that rising yields typically pressure equity valuations.

In US pre-market trading, SpaceX shares reversed early losses and turned positive after dipping below their IPO debut price, moving against a broad market decline. Chip stocks fell collectively, dragging Nasdaq futures down 2.7%. Traders are watching whether the space company's recovery can hold once regular trading begins amid the semiconductor-led selloff.

The Saudi Central Bank has increased its holdings in Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The disclosure that a major sovereign institution is adding to its position in the US tech giant is drawing attention from investors tracking Gulf state involvement in American equities and broader institutional interest in Big Tech stocks.

With US Treasury bond yields reaching the 5% mark, retail investors are turning their attention to financial stocks that could benefit from higher rates. Yahoo Finance highlights three names in the sector that individual investors are watching most closely, as rising yields tend to boost bank and insurer margins while pressuring other parts of the market.

Institutional investors are now driving the bulk of activity in the US stock market, with retail traders stepping back from trading. Reports indicate that individual investors have retreated from equities, leaving large funds and asset managers to dominate volumes and influence market direction. Commentators are watching what this shift means for market stability and volatility.

US stocks have continued climbing even as bond yields surge, a divergence that has caught investors' attention. The Wall Street Journal examined past episodes of rising yields alongside strong equity markets, finding that such periods often end badly, with stocks eventually correcting as borrowing costs weigh on valuations and economic growth.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has boosted its holdings in homebuilder Lennar, drawing investor attention to the housing sector. Coverage highlights three homebuilder stocks worth watching following the move, as markets weigh whether the purchase signals broader confidence in US homebuilders amid changing interest rate expectations.

Microsoft shares are holding steady while US-Iran geopolitical tensions rattle broader markets, with retail investors calling MSFT the 'safest earnings play' ahead of its quarterly report. Traders argue the company's cloud and AI-driven growth makes it a defensive bet even in volatile conditions, though any escalation in the Middle East could still shift sentiment quickly.