U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Trump Moderates Stance on Powell and China, Tesla Soars

U.S. stock index futures rallied early Wednesday, building on the prior session’s strong performance as investor sentiment improved following less confrontational comments from President Donald Trump regarding the Federal Reserve and China, alongside encouraging corporate earnings.

As of 05:45 ET (09:45 GMT), Dow Jones Futures were up 600 points, or 1.5%, while S&P 500 Futures gained 104 points (2%), and Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 440 points, or 2.4%.

On Tuesday, Wall Street enjoyed a robust rebound driven by a combination of easing macro concerns, solid earnings, and bargain hunting. The S&P 500 surged 2.5%, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.7%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.7%.

Trump Softens Tone on Powell and China

Market sentiment improved after President Trump dialed back his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, clarifying that he had no intention of removing him from his post. The reversal follows recent social media attacks where Trump urged Powell to slash interest rates and questioned his leadership—moves that raised concerns over the Fed’s independence.

Trump also adopted a less aggressive stance on China, stating that his administration is “doing fine with China” despite a recent increase in tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%. He added that while the tariffs may decrease “substantially,” they “won’t be zero.” The comments followed reports suggesting that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent views the trade conflict as unsustainable and anticipates a near-term de-escalation.

These developments have sparked renewed optimism for a potential softening of the U.S.-China trade dispute, a key overhang on global markets in recent weeks.

Tesla Jumps on Earnings and Musk’s Shift in Focus

In corporate news, Tesla (TSLA) shares soared more than 6% in premarket trade after the EV maker reported better-than-expected first-quarter profits in its core automotive division. The results, although modest, surpassed deeply discounted analyst estimates.

Adding to the positive sentiment, CEO Elon Musk announced plans to scale back his involvement with the Trump administration and refocus on his business ventures. Musk has been instrumental in the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at shrinking federal operations, but his political involvement has increasingly drawn criticism and impacted Tesla’s public image. Mounting protests and vandalism at Tesla showrooms, combined with weaker sales, have intensified investor calls for Musk to prioritize corporate management.

Key Earnings on Tap

Ahead of the market open, earnings are expected from Amphenol (APH), TE Connectivity (TEL), and Vertiv (VRT). Post-market, attention will shift to results from IBM (IBM), ServiceNow (NOW), and Texas Instruments (TXN).

Oil Prices Rise on Renewed Iran Sanctions

Crude oil prices extended gains on Wednesday as geopolitical tensions flared following new U.S. sanctions on Iran.

By 05:45 ET, Brent crude futures were up 1.1% at $68.20 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 1.3% to $64.48 per barrel. Both benchmarks closed nearly 2% higher on Tuesday.

The latest sanctions target Iranian shipping executive Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh, who is allegedly involved in the transport of liquefied petroleum gas and crude oil. The move is part of the Biden administration’s broader campaign to restrict Iran’s oil revenues, which Washington claims support destabilizing activities across the Middle East.

Additionally, the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported a larger-than-expected 4.6 million barrel draw in U.S. crude inventories last week, reinforcing the bullish tone in oil markets. Official inventory figures from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) are due later today.