Dow Jones Futures Tick Higher As Investors Await Earnings, Monitor Tariff Developments

Dow Jones futures edged higher in pre-market trade on Tuesday as the market weighed the potential for a reprieve on auto tariffs and looked ahead to fresh corporate earnings. 

The move follows a volatile stretch for equities, marked by swings tied to evolving U.S. trade policy.

Dow futures rose 0.07%, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.11%. Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.21%. The S&P 500 is coming off two consecutive days of gains.

Monday’s rebound was partly fueled by President Donald Trump's comments suggesting that certain tariffs, especially those on the auto sector, could be delayed or exempted. 

Stocks also benefited from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bulletin outlining exemptions from “reciprocal” tariffs on electronics such as smartphones, computers, and semiconductors.

Still, policy clarity remains elusive. The White House is progressing with investigations into semiconductors and pharmaceuticals under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, citing national security grounds. 

New filings published in the Federal Register indicate that the probes could result in 25% tariffs on both industries.

Meanwhile, Boeing (BA) shares fell nearly 4% in premarket trade after Bloomberg reported that Chinese regulators instructed domestic airlines to halt new jet deliveries. The move is widely viewed as a retaliatory response to U.S. trade measures.

Earnings will be the key focus on Tuesday. Bank of America (BAC), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), and Citigroup (C) are set to report results before the opening bell. Bank of America shares rose 2% in early trading. Citigroup’s stock gained 1.2%, while Johnson & Johnson shares slipped 0.5%.

Investors will also watch for March import and export price indexes and the latest reading from the New York Fed’s Empire State Manufacturing Survey.

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Read also: Trump Tariffs Make Morgan Stanley, Citi Go Slightly Cold On US Stocks: S&P 500 Earnings Estimated To Take A Hit