Stock Futures Rise as Nvidia Earnings Ignite Tech Rally

U.S. stock index futures advanced sharply in pre-market trading Thursday after Nvidia Corp. reported third-quarter earnings that exceeded analyst forecasts, bolstering confidence in the artificial intelligence sector. Nvidia posted earnings per share of $1.30 on revenue of $57 billion, topping estimates of $1.26 EPS and $54.62 billion in sales, according to data compiled by Stocktwits. The chipmaker's shares rose more than 5% in pre-market action, lifting tech-heavy indexes. Dow Jones futures led the gains at 0.61%, reflecting resilience in industrials and financials, while S&P 500 futures climbed 1.19% and Nasdaq 100 futures soared 1.51%. Russell 2000 futures added 0.79%. The upbeat reaction followed Nvidia's track record of beating sales forecasts for 13 straight quarters, with prior expectations for 62% profit growth and 68% revenue jump in recent periods, per LSEG data. Nvidia's results eased concerns over an AI bubble, as robust demand for its data center chips propelled growth. The company's performance rippled across peers, with after-hours strength in AMD, Alphabet, and Walmart also in focus. Wednesday's session saw the S&P 500 rise 0.8% to near its record high, Nasdaq Composite up 1.1% to 22,863.68, and Dow advancing 0.6%. Traders now await key economic indicators, including inflation data and Trump administration policy updates, to gauge sustainability. Nvidia's beat underscores AI's market dominance, but analysts watch for guidance on China exposure and data center revenue amid geopolitical tensions. The session tests if tech's rally can broaden beyond megacaps.