Pre-Bell | US Futures Edge Higher; DXYZ Soars 7%; Rocket Lab Jumps 4%; Micron up 3%; Nvidia, AMD, Tesla up 1%

01 Stock Market

As of Dec 22, U.S. stock index futures are modestly higher, led by tech-heavy benchmarks. Dow futures inched up 0.02%, while S&P 500 futures rose 0.36% and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.53%. The tone suggests appetite for growth and AI-linked names into the open, with traders watching whether large-cap tech leadership can extend gains as liquidity thins into year-end.

Notable Stock Movers: AI and space names lead pre-market action, alongside megacaps. NVDA up 1.31% at $183.36; TSLA up 1.01% at $486.07; RKLB up 4.17% at $73.46; MU up 2.89% at $273.60; ORCL up 2.06% at $195.92; AMD up 1.44% at $216.50; INTC up 1.71% at $37.45; GOOG up 0.74% at $310.89; AMZN up 0.67% at $228.88; DXYZ up 7%; China ADR PDD up 2.01% at $111.71. Precious metals proxy SLV up 2.79% at $62.63. Inverse tech levered ETF SQQQ down 1.56% at $68.04, consistent with tech strength.

Recent corporate headlines are supporting selective moves: RKLB is buoyed by a major U.S. defense satellite award; TSLA is firm after a favorable legal ruling restoring options for its CEO; and software platform Clearwater Analytics (CWAN) rallied after a take-private agreement. Gold-linked ETFs are firmer as safe-haven flows persist. We’ll watch whether semis (notably NVDA and MU) keep leadership amid ongoing AI infrastructure spend.

02 Other Markets

• 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose 0.42%, to 4.17%.

• U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.2350% to 98.49.

• WTI crude oil futures rose 1.95% to 57.62 USD/barrel; COMEX gold futures rose 1.29% to 4444.00 USD/ounce.

03 Key News

1. Delaware Supreme Court reinstated Elon Musk’s rescinded Tesla stock options, boosting corporate flexibility and investor confidence. The court overturned a prior lower-court decision, restoring a large options package for the CEO. Governance debates persist, but the ruling eliminates immediate uncertainty around compensation. TSLA is trading pre-market with strength, up 1.01% at $486.07.

2. Permira and Warburg Pincus agreed to acquire Clearwater Analytics in an $8.4 billion take-private. The buyer group will pay $24.55 per share in cash, with a “go-shop” period and customary approvals ahead. The deal highlights private equity appetite for scaled fintech platforms. CWAN jumped pre-market, up 7.5% to $23.97 as investors price in the premium.

3. U.S. Space Development Agency awarded Rocket Lab an agreement worth up to $805 million for 18 missile warning and tracking satellites. The contract represents Rocket Lab’s largest award, expanding its space systems footprint beyond launch. The deal underscores rising U.S. defense spending on resilient LEO constellations. RKLB is higher pre-market, up 4.17% at $73.46.

4. Electronic Arts set a virtual stockholder meeting concerning its proposed sale to an investor group led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The potential buyout would mark a landmark leveraged transaction in gaming. Investor focus is on approval dynamics and strategic fit. EA traded weaker in pre-market indications, down 4.9%.

5. Blue Owl Capital withdrew support for Oracle’s large data-center financing amid debt and AI spending scrutiny. Media reporting indicates the financing exit reflects concerns over balance-sheet flexibility against aggressive infrastructure build-outs. Investors are watching how Oracle reallocates capital and funding sources. ORCL remains firm pre-market, up 2.06% at $195.92.

6. Bill Ackman proposed taking SpaceX public via a merger with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings, including SPARs for Tesla shareholders. The plan would distribute investable rights to a broad shareholder base, aiming to democratize participation and reduce traditional IPO frictions. The approach could set a template for future listings of high-demand private tech assets. TSLA is firmer pre-market, up 1.01% at $486.07.

7. U.S. authorities intensified an oil blockade against Venezuela, increasing geopolitical tension and safe-haven demand. Tighter energy sanctions can constrain supply and elevate risk premia across commodities. Gold and silver rallied on haven flows and rate-cut bets, aligning with pre-market strength in metals-linked assets.

8. ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF recorded substantial investor inflows as market participants seek early SpaceX exposure. Inflows surged despite the fund’s smaller allocation to SpaceX due to private-market constraints. Demand reflects investor enthusiasm for high-growth space ventures and pre-listing positioning.

Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not investment advice.