Pre-Bell | Nasdaq Futures Rise 0.72%; Chip Shares Jump With Micron up Nearly 4%; Oil Stocks Gain With Chevron up About 7%; Storage, Precious Metals, Crypto Sectors Shine

01 Stock Market

As of Jan 5, U.S. stock index futures are modestly higher, led by tech-heavy contracts. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.72% at 25,569.25, S&P 500 futures gained 0.33% at 6,923.50, and Dow futures edged up 0.06% at 48,643. The pre-market tone reflects anticipation of chip and AI announcements at CES alongside energy sector focus following Venezuela developments. Traders are balancing growth-sensitive tech momentum with policy and geopolitical currents while gauging how upcoming macro releases might shape rate expectations.

Semiconductor and energy names led notable pre-market action, with several large caps advancing. NVDA up 1.52% at $191.72; AMD up 2.92% at $230.00; INTC up 4.70% at $41.23; MU up 3.70% at $327.09. Among mega caps: TSLA up 1.47% at $444.52; MSFT up 0.05% at $473.19; GOOG up 0.35% at $316.42; AMZN up 0.41% at $227.42; META down 0.11% at $649.70. Energy was firmer: CVX up 6.70% at $166.35; OXY up 2.10% at $43.27. Crypto-exposed and foundry names also gained: COIN up 4.28% at $246.65; TSM up 2.83% at $328.65.

Broader risk proxies echoed the rotation into AI, energy, and digital assets. Levered tech vehicles were firmer, including TQQQ up 2.22% at $53.51, while metals-linked ETFs strengthened as haven interest improved: SLV up 3.57% at $68.10; GLD up 2.00% at $406.25. Among ADRs, EV player XPEV fell 2.99% at $19.82, underscoring dispersion across China-linked growth segments even as U.S. semis outperformed ahead of CES-related newsflow.

02 Other Markets

• 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 0.52%, to 4.17%.

• U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.21% to 98.64.

• WTI crude oil futures rose 0.56% to 57.64 USD/barrel; COMEX gold futures rose 2.31% to 4429.80 USD/ounce.

03 Key News

1. Nvidia will deliver a CES keynote unveiling AI and gaming offerings, spotlighting robotics as a major theme. The company is expected to showcase new chips and AI applications that extend its ecosystem from data centers to consumer platforms. Anticipation around product updates is supporting sentiment in semis ahead of the conference.

2. AMD will host a CES keynote highlighting advances in AI PCs and gaming silicon. Management is set to outline roadmap enhancements and software capabilities aimed at accelerating AI workloads on consumer devices. The developments could reinforce competitive positioning versus peers in high-performance computing.

3. Intel will present updates on Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake) powered by 18A process technology at CES. The keynote is expected to emphasize architectural gains and power efficiency, a pillar of the company’s turnaround effort. Strong execution in next-gen nodes is a key catalyst for client computing share recovery.

4. Qualcomm’s CEO will discuss Windows PC chips and physical AI systems in a CES fireside chat. The session is poised to build on momentum from Snapdragon X-series platforms and broader edge-AI ambitions. Expanded partnerships in PCs and robotics would deepen the firm’s reach beyond mobile.

5. The U.S. State Department said it will continue enforcing a tanker blockade around Venezuela, limiting heavy crude flows. Officials signaled ongoing pressure on shipping routes as part of broader policy aims. Analysts note that logistical constraints and underinvestment imply a slow path to restoring Venezuelan output.

6. The U.S. President pledged support for American drillers to revive Venezuelan oil production, signaling potential future investment. Energy research estimates substantial capital needs and multi-year timelines to materially lift output. The stance has drawn attention to U.S. majors’ exposure to heavier crudes and regional refining configurations.

7. PwC said it will deepen crypto-related work amid a friendlier U.S. regulatory stance. The firm cited a shift in oversight and new legislative frameworks as catalysts for institutional adoption. Expanded advisory and assurance services could accelerate corporate engagement with digital assets.

8. U.S. spot crypto ETFs’ cumulative trading volume recently surpassed $2 trillion, marking accelerated market-structure growth. Net inflows into Bitcoin and Ethereum funds have picked up, with one sponsor maintaining a dominant share of activity. Deeper liquidity is improving price discovery and broadening investor access.

9. ISM said it will release its latest Manufacturing PMI, offering a fresh read on factory activity. The data will help investors gauge whether industrial momentum is stabilizing after a soft patch. A firmer print could bolster cyclicals and temper expectations for aggressive policy easing.

10. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said it will publish the monthly jobs report, updating payrolls and unemployment. Labor trends are central to the rate path and risk appetite across equities and credit. A stronger labor backdrop could nudge markets to reassess the pace of future rate cuts.

Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not investment advice.