Nasdaq, S&P 500 Futures Slip As Iran Tensions, Chip Weakness Keep Investors On Edge: Why TSM, NVDA, NFLX, ATAI, ASTS Are In Focus

• Markets were digesting a fifth straight day of U.S. military strikes on Iran, with Tehran threatening retaliation and raising concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies. 
• Investors monitored weakness in the chip sector and fresh economic data due today. 
• AI infrastructure spending returned to the spotlight after Michael Burry questioned the data-center boom.

U.S. stock futures traded under mild pressure early Thursday as investors monitored escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and renewed weakness in semiconductor stocks against a backdrop of encouraging inflation signals and strong bank earnings in the previous session.

Investors are also debating whether AI infrastructure spending has become overheated after the ‘Big Short’ investor Michael Burry mocked the data-center boom by calling it a "Fantasy," even as President Donald Trump described data centers as future "money machines" capable of generating jobs and tax revenue. 

U.S. military strikes on Iran continued for a fifth straight day, with Iran threatening retaliation. Back home, investors will be watching for initial jobless claims, among other economic data releases today. 

As of 4:00 a.m. ET, Nasdaq futures declined 0.5%, Russell 2000 futures were down 0.3%, S&P 500 futures fell 0.1%, and Dow futures were flat with a negative bias.

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index, and the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, has remained ‘bullish’.

Trending Stocks To Watch

SK Hynix Inc ADR (SKHY): The newly listed ADR remains volatile, tumbling over 11% in Seoul, leading a broader Asian semiconductor rout. 

Nvidia Corp. (NVDA): Trending on Stocktwits as it deepens its footprint in Japan, including partnerships with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toyota and other enterprises.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) is in focus after posting blowout June-quarter earnings, all thanks to booming AI demand. It has also formalized a $100 billion expansion plan to build four additional chip fabrication plants in the U.S. 

ASML Holding (ASML): Gaining momentum after smashing Q2 expectations and hiking its full-year 2026 revenue guidance. Retail traders have called it the “ultimate hardware gatekeeper.”

AtaiBeckley Inc. (ATAI): Shares surged 43% in early premarket trade following reports that Eli Lilly (LLY) is negotiating a premium buyout valued north of $2 billion to expand its neuroscience portfolio. Venture investors suggested a potential acquisition price between $9 and $11 per share. LLY shares were flat.

AST SpaceMobile Inc. (ASTS): Shares fell 12% in early premarket trading after the company announced a $1 billion private offering of convertible senior notes, with management saying the proceeds could fund acquisitions and further vertical integration. 

Netflix (NFLX): Garners retail attention ahead of its earnings report, with investors watching subscriber trends, advertising momentum and management's outlook. 

Oil stocks (USO, BATL, TPET, XOM, CVX) remain in focus as crude supply chains brace for impact following Iran’s vow to exert control over the vital Strait of Hormuz. 

Other tickers trending on Stocktwits at the time of writing included Uber Technologies (UBER), Gorilla Technologies (GRRR), Transocean (RIG), Sandisk (SNDK) and Alibaba Group (BABA).

Other Catalysts To Watch

On the economic front, investors will be tracking the release of the U.S. initial jobless claims, retail sales, the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index, and the pending home sales index.

On the earnings front, Abbott Laboratories (ABT), UnitedHealth (UNH), U.S. Bancorp (USB), State Street (STT), Citizens Financial (CFG), and Wipro (WIT) report before the bell. Meanwhile, Netflix (NFLX), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), Alcoa (AA), First National Bank (FNB), among others, report after market close today. 

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