US pre-open: Futures edge higher as markets digest FOMC decision, tech results

30th Jul 2026 11:26

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futures were in the green ahead of the open on Thursday following heavy losses in the previous session, as market participants absorbed a fresh wave of Big Tech earnings, the Federal Reserve's decision to keep rates on hold, and renewed tensions in the Middle East.

As of 1230 BST, Dow Jones futures were up 0.25%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.46% and 0.98% firmer, respectively.

The Dow closed a whopping 1,153.18 points lower on Wednesday, the blue chip index's worst single-day decline since April 2025.

Software giant Microsoft shares ticked higher in pre-market trade as it posted another strong quarter and set out plans for steady capital spending through 2026. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.74, while revenues rose 18% year‑on‑year to $90.01bn, ahead of the $87.62bn expected on the Street. Net income climbed to $35.77bn, helped by a $3.2bn gain from Microsoft's Anthropic investment and lower‑than‑anticipated costs from its voluntary retirement programme.

On the other hand, Meta Platforms slumped as investors reacted negatively to the firm's plans to ramp up spending on artificial intelligence despite a drop in quarterly profits. The Facebook and Instagram owner said revenues rose 28% year‑on‑year to $61bn, but quarterly profits fell 14% to $6bn. Meta also lifted its FY spending plans to $130bn to $145bn, largely directed toward AI infrastructure, up from the $125bn it outlined just three months earlier. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg defended the investment push, saying AI development was "accelerating every part of our core business" and that Meta intends to commercialise its technology.

Mastercard, Anheuser-Busch and Bristol-Myers Squibb will report earnings before the open, while Apple and Amazon were slated to post its latest quarterly figures after the close.

Investors were also digesting the Fed's move to leave interest rates unchanged at Wednesday's meeting, a call that sent long‑dated Treasury yields higher, and news that US forces had completed a "heavy wave" of strikes against Iran in retaliation to Tehran's missile attacks on American forces in the region. US Central Command described the operation as a "powerful response" to attempted Iranian attacks on US forces in the region.

On the macro front, June's PCE price index will be published at 1330 BST, as will personal income and spending figures, weekly jobless claims data and a preliminary reading of second-quarter gross domestic product.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com