US STOCKS-Wall St futures fall as AI rally cools; inflation data in focus

By Ragini Mathur and Utkarsh Hathi

May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Tuesday as a rally in chip stocks lost steam and hopes for a quick resolution to the Middle East war faded, while investors looked ahead to a key inflation report.

President Donald Trump said a ceasefire with Iran was "on life support" after Tehran rejected a U.S. proposal to end the conflict, keeping oil prices elevated as the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route remained closed. Crude futures LCOc1, CLc1 climbed nearly 3%.

Although a strong earnings season has helped bolster market sentiment, the lack of progress in negotiations between Washington and Tehran remains a concern for market watchers as surging oil prices fuel worries of higher inflation.

A consumer inflation report due at 8:30 a.m. ET is expected to draw close scrutiny for signs of broader price pressures. The consumer price index is forecast to have risen 0.6% last month, after a 0.9% jump in March, according to a Reuters survey of economists.

"The risks are skewed to a hotter-than-expected increase in prices, and while headline numbers may not move the dial, a higher-than-forecast core number could at least put a temporary brake on market optimism," said Derren Nathan, head of equity research, Hargreaves Lansdown.

Markets are no longer pricing in policy easing in 2026 after rapid repricing in recent weeks. Ahead of the war, traders had expected two rate cuts, per CME Group's FedWatch Tool, and briefly priced in chances of a rate hike about a month into the conflict.

Producer prices and retail sales data are also due this week, with investors turning to macroeconomic cues as the first-quarter earnings season draws to a close.

At 07:10 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis YMcv1 were down 29 points, or 0.06%, and S&P 500 E-minis EScv1 were down 28.5 points, or 0.38%. Nasdaq 100 E-minis NQcv1 were down 242 points, or 0.82%.

All three major U.S. stock indexes advanced on Monday, with the S&P 500 .SPX and the Nasdaq .IXIC notching fresh record closing highs, supported by continued optimism around artificial intelligence and the health of Corporate America.

That AI-linked momentum cooled on Tuesday, with most chip stocks trading lower before the bell.

Intel INTC.O shares eased 3.9% in premarket trading after climbing more than 17% in the previous two sessions.

Among other movers, Hims & Hers Health HIMS.N tumbled 15% after the telehealth firm missed Wall Street estimates for first-quarter revenue and posted a surprise loss.

GameStop GME.N slipped 4% after online marketplace eBay EBAY.O rejected the videogame retailer's $56 billion takeover bid. eBay was down 0.6%.

Venture Global VG.N rose 8.5% after the LNG exporter raised its annual adjusted core profit forecast.