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U.S. stock futures edged lower early Tuesday as investors braced for another volatile session following a broad selloff that swept through global markets. Concerns over whether the recent frenzy around artificial intelligence can be sustained weighed heavily on equities, gold, and Bitcoin, with major Wall Street benchmarks falling through a key technical indicator used to gauge near-term momentum. The day also brings fresh insights into U.S. consumer health as Home Depot prepares to report earnings, while Microsoft opens a high-profile developers event where its AI strategy is expected to take center stage.

Futures Extend Losses

Futures tied to the major U.S. indices pointed to continued weakness after Monday’s sharp drop.
As of 03:12 ET, Dow futures were down 146 points, or 0.3%. S&P 500 futures slipped 28 points, or 0.4%, and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 124 points, or 0.5%.

All three major benchmarks closed below their 50-day moving averages on Monday — a level closely monitored by traders for signs of shifting market direction. Selling intensified into the afternoon, with tech stocks bearing the heaviest losses. Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), which reports critical quarterly numbers later this week, fell 1.9%, dragging peers such as Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) and Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) lower.

Analysts at Vital Knowledge said traders appeared “jittery” and “nervous”, particularly after Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) $12 billion bond issuance stoked fears that massive AI-related spending on data centers is increasingly being funded through debt rather than cash flow or equity.

Even a fresh record high for Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) — helped by a new stake from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) — was not enough to stabilize sentiment.

Waller Repeats Call for December Rate Cut

Despite the downturn, stocks saw a modest late-day bounce after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller again pushed for a December rate cut. Waller pointed to private-sector hiring data — used temporarily during the federal shutdown — suggesting the labor market was moving at “stall speed” in September and October.

He argued that another quarter-point cut at next month’s meeting would “provide additional insurance against an acceleration” in the cooling of employment conditions.

Still, the December decision remains uncertain. Several Fed officials have cautioned against reducing rates until full government-issued data becomes available and shows more definitive signs of weakness.

Home Depot Earnings Take Center Stage

Home Depot (NYSE:HD) headlines today’s corporate calendar, kicking off a week packed with retail results that could offer clearer visibility into consumer spending patterns. Shares of the home-improvement chain have dropped more than 8% over the past month, reflecting growing investor caution around discretionary spending and the broader housing market slowdown.

Rising raw-material costs — exacerbated by President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging import tariffs — have pressured margins for Home Depot and rival Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW). Both retailers have passed higher costs on to customers, although analysts believe last month’s trade thaw between Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping may reduce some of the cost burden going forward.

Strategists also note that lower interest rates from the Fed could help revive demand for renovation and DIY projects that homeowners have postponed due to high borrowing costs.

Consensus estimates call for a 1.5% increase in comparable sales for Home Depot’s third quarter, reversing a 1.3% decline a year earlier, according to LSEG data cited by Reuters.

Microsoft Developer Conference to Spotlight AI Infrastructure

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) opens its annual developer conference today in San Francisco, where investors expect new details on the company’s aggressive data-center expansion tied to surging AI demand.

A recent report from The Wall Street Journal said Microsoft plans to build next-generation two-story AI “super factories” in Georgia as part of an effort to double its global data-center footprint within two years. The facilities would be used to help train the company’s proprietary AI models.

In the fiscal first quarter alone, Microsoft spent over $34 billion on capital investment and signaled further increases ahead — part of a broader wave of AI spending that could reach $400 billion this year across the tech giants.

Bitcoin Wipes Out All 2025 Gains

Bitcoin (COIN:BTCUSD) briefly dipped below $91,000 early Tuesday in the latest leg of a deepening downturn that has spilled over into the wider crypto sector. The cryptocurrency has now erased all gains accumulated in 2025 and trades more than 25% below its record high reached just over a month ago.

Analysts note that mounting uncertainty over the U.S. economic outlook and the Fed’s rate trajectory has dimmed the appeal of speculative assets. Spot Bitcoin ETFs are also seeing rising outflows as investors unwind positions built around expectations of looser monetary policy.

European equities tumbled on Tuesday, mirroring the steep selloff seen overnight on Wall Street as renewed concerns over stretched technology valuations weighed heavily on sentiment ahead of Nvidia’s closely watched earnings report.

At 08:05 GMT, Germany’s DAX fell 1.3%, France’s CAC 40 slid 1.3% and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 dropped 1%.

AI Valuation Fears Drag Global Markets Lower

Investors continued to pull back from mega-cap tech stocks amid rising doubts about the sustainability of AI-driven valuations. Ahead of Nvidia’s latest quarterly results, due Wednesday, traders dumped high-growth names, sending the major U.S. indices sharply lower: the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 500 points (1.2%), while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also ended in the red.

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai cautioned in a BBC interview that “every company would be affected” if the AI boom were to unwind. He described the surge in AI-linked investment as an “extraordinary moment,” while also pointing to signs of “irrationality” creeping into the current enthusiasm.

Concerns about overheating come as questions mount over Nvidia’s meteoric valuation expansion — a move that has underpinned broader AI market optimism over the past three years.

Focus Shifts to U.S. Data as Government Reopens

Europe’s economic calendar is light on Tuesday, leaving attention squarely on the U.S. as fresh datasets begin to emerge following Washington’s federal government reopening.

August factory orders are due later in the day, but the market’s primary focus remains on Thursday’s September nonfarm payrolls report, which will provide important clues about labour-market momentum and future Federal Reserve decisions.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller on Monday warned of risks facing the job market and called for policymakers to support another 25-basis-point cut at the December 9–10 FOMC meeting.

Rate-cut expectations have wavered: CME FedWatch now shows markets pricing in roughly a 40% chance of a December cut, down from 55% the previous week.

Corporate Headlines: Imperial Brands, Crest Nicholson, Akzo Nobel

Across Europe, company news added further movement to individual stocks:

• Imperial Brands (LSE:IMB) reported a nearly 5% increase in annual adjusted operating profit, driven by higher pricing and growing demand for reduced-risk products.
• Crest Nicholson (LSE:CRST) warned its full-year profit is likely to land at the lower end — or slightly below — prior guidance due to continued housing-market softness and uncertainty surrounding upcoming tax policy decisions.
• Akzo Nobel (EU:AKZA) confirmed plans to merge with U.S. rival Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE:AXTA) in a deal that will create a combined paint and coatings business valued at about $25 billion.

Oil Slips as Russian Exports Resume

Oil prices weakened as supply concerns eased following the restart of operations at Russia’s key Black Sea export hub.

Brent crude fell 0.9% to $63.64 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate slid 1% to $59.29.

Russia’s Novorossiysk port resumed loadings on Sunday after a two-day halt caused by a Ukrainian drone and missile strike. Exports from Novorossiysk and the nearby Caspian Pipeline Consortium account for roughly 2.2 million barrels a day — around 2% of global supply.

WPP (LSE:WPP) saw its shares fall roughly 3% on Tuesday after Havas Group publicly denied media claims suggesting the two advertising giants had explored merger options or potential investment deals.

The drop came after reports from The Times and other outlets indicated that Havas — along with private-equity firms such as Apollo Global Management and KKR — had assessed a range of possible transactions involving WPP. These scenarios reportedly included anything from the acquisition of a minority stake to a full buyout or bids for selected divisions.

WPP has been under persistent pressure throughout the year. Its market capitalisation has slipped to around £3 billion, and the company has issued profit warnings while undertaking a broad restructuring led by its new CEO, Cindy Rose.

Havas moved quickly to quash the rumours. In an email sent to employees on Monday and obtained by Bloomberg, CEO Yannick Bolloré said the company was “not in discussions with WPP.” He added that Havas remains focused on smaller, targeted acquisitions rather than large, transformative deals like those described in recent reports.

The clarification dampened the takeover speculation that had driven WPP’s share price higher in the previous session. Analysts noted that Tuesday’s reaction reflected investors’ uncertainty over WPP’s strategic direction and the lack of clarity around any potential dealmaking.

Private-equity interest in WPP has resurfaced periodically in recent months, largely due to the group’s depressed valuation and rapid industry shifts toward data-driven, technology-enabled, and AI-powered marketing services. However, no firm has publicly confirmed active negotiations.

ICG Plc (LSE:ICG) jumped more than 8% on Tuesday after the alternative asset manager released first-half fiscal 2026 results that comfortably beat analyst expectations and unveiled a new 10-year global distribution agreement with Amundi.

For the six months to September 30, 2025, the Fund Management Company division delivered pre-tax profit of £325 million — 23% above the consensus forecast of £263 million. The business reported an operating margin of 67.1%, well ahead of expectations of 60.7%. Fundraising totalled $9 billion, significantly surpassing the estimated $5.4 billion, with strong inflows from Europe IX and Infrastructure II, though slightly below the $10 billion raised in the prior-year period.

By strategy, structured capital and secondaries accounted for $4 billion, real assets brought in $3.3 billion and debt strategies added $1.7 billion. Europe IX attracted $2.8 billion in commitments, including $1.3 billion secured in Q2, while Infrastructure II closed at €3.1 billion. The firm also confirmed plans to launch LP Secondaries II later this fiscal year.

Fee-earning AUM reached $83.8 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $81.7 billion and rising from $73 billion a year earlier. Total AUM increased to $124 billion. Management fees advanced 16% year over year to £334 million, 7% above expectations, supported by £38 million in catch-up fees and a 98-basis-point fee margin. Performance fees surged to £98 million, outstripping the forecast £84 million and more than tripling last year’s £32 million, helped by the initial recognition of Mid-Market I, Europe VIII and Strategic Equity IV under the revised fee framework introduced in October.

Operating expenses for the Fund Management Company came in at £159 million — 6% below consensus and unchanged from last year — while divisional revenue reached £484 million, beating expectations of £433 million.

In the Investment Company division, net investment return totalled £72 million, below the forecast £115 million but still higher than last year’s £48 million. The balance sheet investment portfolio was valued at £2.8 billion, slightly below the £3 billion reported in H1 FY25. Returns were positive in structured capital (9%) and real assets (5%), but debt declined 9% and seed investments were down 3%. Pre-tax profit for the segment was £27 million, compared with a consensus expectation of £39 million.

At the group level, pre-tax profit rose to £352 million, ahead of the £299 million forecast and up sharply from £198 million a year earlier. Fully diluted EPS reached 103 pence, easily surpassing the expected 84 pence and improving from 58 pence last year. The interim dividend was declared at 28 pence, matching estimates and up from 26 pence. Net asset value per share rose to 900 pence, ahead of the 890-pence forecast and up from 788 pence.

ICG also announced a major strategic development: a 10-year partnership under which Amundi will serve as the exclusive global distributor for selected ICG products within the wealth channel. As part of the arrangement, Amundi will acquire a 9.9% economic stake through a structured transaction. ICG said it plans to counteract dilution via a share buyback by the first half of 2027.

The group reaffirmed its medium-term targets, including at least $55 billion of fundraising across fiscal 2025–2028, Fund Management Company margins above 54%, performance fees contributing 10–20% of overall fee income and low double-digit returns from balance sheet investments.

Great Portland Estates (LSE:GPE) reported a solid first half of 2026, with EPRA NTA per share rising by 10p to 504p, supported by strong leasing performance and active capital recycling. The London-focused real estate group completed 43 new leases and renewals worth £37.6 million a year — 7.1% above the March 2025 estimated rental values (ERV). This activity helped lift the company’s rent roll by 29% over the period.

The momentum continues with a further £10.3 million of lettings currently under offer at terms 30.9% ahead of ERV. Like-for-like rental income grew by 5%, and GPE reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance for prime office rental growth of 4.0% to 7.0%.

On the investment side, GPE completed £292 million of asset disposals at prices 1.7% above book value and executed one acquisition to reinforce its West End portfolio — transactions that support the robustness of its net asset value assessments.

The development pipeline also progressed, with 352,000 square feet moving through planning and pre-letting activity advancing across several major schemes. The overall property portfolio valuation increased 1.5% to £3.1 billion during the half.

GPE further strengthened its financial position by securing a new £525 million bank facility, helping maintain a loan-to-value ratio of 28% and providing room to fund upcoming capital expenditure. Earnings per share were 3.9p, while the dividend held steady at 2.9p.

Greencore (LSE:GNC) posted a solid set of full-year 2025 results on Tuesday, reporting a 7.7% rise in group revenue to £1.95 billion. Adjusted operating profit climbed 28.9% to £125.7 million, while margins strengthened by 110 basis points to 6.5%, reflecting improved efficiency and disciplined cost management. The company credited the performance to new contract wins, underlying volume growth, and continued effectiveness in navigating inflation and pricing pressures.

EBITDA grew roughly 18% to £181.2 million for the year, and profit before tax surged 29.3% to £79.5 million. Free cash flow also increased to £120.5 million, while net debt excluding leases dropped significantly to £70.1 million, lowering leverage to just 0.4x.

Food-to-go remained the group’s engine of growth, delivering £1.34 billion in revenue thanks to strong demand for sandwiches, sushi, and other quick-serve categories. Convenience ranges also performed well, aided by the full-year impact of a large ready-meals contract and a broader recovery from prior inflationary pressures. Total manufactured volumes rose 2.5%, including 1.1% of underlying growth — ahead of the wider U.K. grocery market.

The company said FY26 is off to a good start despite a challenging domestic backdrop and persistent inflation in labour and protein inputs. Management maintained its positive stance, expecting “another year of profitable growth,” supported by continued operational momentum and targeted investment.

Greencore also highlighted progress on its recommended acquisition of Bakkavor, confirming a binding agreement to sell its Bristol chilled soups and sauces facility to Compleat Food Group (Holdings) Limited. The divestment — subject to approval from the Competition and Markets Authority — represents another step toward completing the Bakkavor deal in early 2026.

“We reported strong growth against all key financial measures and have met our medium-term ROIC target, established only nine months ago,” CEO Dalton Philips said in a statement. He noted that momentum has carried into the new financial year and described FY26 — the company’s centenary — as a period in which Greencore will continue investing in customer relationships and its cost base. Philips also said the Bakkavor transaction “brings two great businesses together and creates real value.”

Vast Resources plc (LSE:VAST) has responded to shareholder questions regarding the diamond parcel previously reported at more than 135,000 carats. The company confirmed that the total carat weight has not changed; instead, part of the parcel has been upgraded into higher-quality categories following reassessment. A tender auction is currently in progress for 126,677 carats, with the balance retained for future sale. While the upcoming diamond revenues are expected to be meaningful, Vast reiterated that additional financing will still be required to fully repay its secured debt and emphasised that its debt-repayment strategy was never dependent solely on diamond proceeds.

The company’s outlook remains heavily constrained by ongoing financial pressures — including persistent losses and negative equity — which weigh significantly on overall performance. Nonetheless, recent corporate developments and some supportive technical indicators offer a degree of counterbalance, hinting at potential improvements in strategic positioning. Valuation concerns persist due to the company’s negative profitability metrics.

More about Vast Resources

Vast Resources plc is a UK-listed mining company with operations spanning Romania, Tajikistan, and Zimbabwe. Its portfolio includes the Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine in Romania, the Aprelevka gold mines in Tajikistan, and diamond operations in Zimbabwe. The company also benefits from joint venture interests that generate revenue from non-ferrous concentrate sales.

Quantum Helium Limited (LSE:QHE) has launched a high-resolution 3D seismic survey at its Sagebrush helium project in Colorado, where it holds an 82.5% working interest. The programme is designed to map key subsurface structures, refine upcoming drilling targets, and inform broader development planning. Data processing is expected to conclude by Q1 2026. The survey is particularly important for Quantum’s next phase of operations, as it will deliver detailed imaging around the Sagebrush-1 helium discovery and help guide drilling and production strategies for 2026.

More about Quantum Helium Limited

Quantum Helium Limited is engaged in the exploration, development, and production of helium, hydrogen, and hydrocarbons across projects in the US and Australia. The company aims to build operating cash flow while pursuing development and exploration opportunities that can drive long-term growth.

CML Microsystems (LSE:CML) reported a 27% year-on-year revenue decline for the first half of 2025, reflecting ongoing market destocking and supply chain disruptions. Despite the setback, the company maintains a positive medium-term outlook, underpinned by a series of operational improvements — including the relocation of its MwT operation in Silicon Valley and successful ISO 9001 re-certification. Strengthening order intake also points to a potential recovery as market conditions normalise.

As part of its strategy to diversify revenue and broaden market reach, CML secured a major contract with a leading GNSS equipment manufacturer, reinforcing its position in high-performance wireless communications. The company is additionally preparing to launch a new integrated chip for Digital Radio Mondiale, targeting rising adoption in India and China.

CML’s outlook remains challenged by negative profitability, weak cash flow, bearish technical indicators, and a valuation hindered by a negative P/E ratio. However, its dividend yield offers a degree of support while the company works to re-establish revenue momentum.

More about CML Microsystems

CML Microsystems plc designs and manufactures mixed-signal, RF, and microwave semiconductors serving global communications markets. With operations in the UK, Asia, and the US, the company focuses on high-growth niches such as secure data transmission, telecoms infrastructure upgrades, and private wireless networks linked to the industrial internet of things (IIoT).

Imperial Brands (LSE:IMB) reported another year of steady operational progress, with tobacco and next-generation product (NGP) net revenue rising 4.1%. The uplift was driven by double-digit expansion in NGP and steady market share trends across key geographies. Although reported revenue dipped slightly, the company delivered a 4.6% increase in adjusted operating profit and a 9.1% rise in adjusted earnings per share. Imperial also continued to prioritise shareholder returns, lifting its dividend by 4.5% and completing a £1.25bn share buyback during FY25.

Looking ahead, the group plans to broaden its strategic focus by investing more heavily in innovation and consumer insight, aiming to enhance its product capabilities and sustain growth across both its traditional tobacco and NGP portfolios.

Imperial Brands’ outlook is supported by resilient financial performance and an appealing valuation profile, with the completed buyback further strengthening returns for shareholders. Even so, technical indicators hint at potential overbought conditions, suggesting a degree of caution in the near term.

More about Imperial Brands

Imperial Brands PLC is a global tobacco and NGP company with strong positions across five core markets. Its portfolio includes traditional tobacco products as well as next-generation offerings such as vapour devices and oral nicotine. The business focuses on sustaining value in combustibles while scaling its NGP segment to support long-term, sustainable growth.