New York, February 24, 2026, 07:18 EST — Premarket
- Microsoft gained 0.4% ahead of the bell, clawing back part of Monday’s 3.2% drop.
- Fresh U.S. tariffs are on the table, and a new round of AI-fueled selling is hitting software stocks as investors take stock.
- Nvidia and Salesforce are set to report Wednesday. Intuit’s turn comes Thursday.
Microsoft clawed back 0.4% in premarket trading Tuesday, following a sharp 3.2% drop for the stock the day before.
U.S. stock index futures ticked up after Monday’s broad selloff, the rebound coming as traders grappled with tariff news and fresh AI fears rattling the software sector. “The lack of clarity regarding their duration and scope keeps volatility elevated,” said Antonio Di Giacomo, senior market analyst at brokerage XS.com. Reuters
Policy took another turn overnight. The U.S. slapped a fresh 10% tariff on non-exempt imports Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said, following President Donald Trump’s suggestion of an even steeper rate—still not finalized.
Megacap tech was in the red Monday, right alongside the broader market. Microsoft slid 3.21% to finish at $384.47. Amazon and Meta both closed down as well, according to MarketWatch data.
Some of the pressure in software names stemmed from a memo making its way around trading desks. Citrini Research called it “a scenario, not a prediction,” but the gist: AI risks moving from just a sector issue to something that could shake the wider economy. Citrini Research
Competitive threats in software weren’t far from investors’ minds. IBM shares tumbled 13.2% Monday, a sharp drop that followed Anthropic’s unveiling of new automation tools for COBOL modernization—an area where IBM has traditionally held sway.
Microsoft faces a test: will that premarket pop Tuesday stick after the 9:30 a.m. ET bell, or does the crowd keep trimming software positions going into the earnings print?
If Nvidia, the AI heavyweight, misses expectations, the risk trade could snap back fast—particularly with fresh scrutiny on whether hefty AI outlays are actually delivering lasting earnings strength.
Nvidia plans to report its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 results after markets close on Wednesday, February 25. The company’s conference call is slated for 5 p.m. ET.
Salesforce plans to drop its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 numbers after markets close on February 25. The company will host a conference call at 5 p.m. ET.
Intuit plans to release its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on February 26. Company leadership is scheduled to hold a call at 1:30 p.m. PT to go over the numbers.
Political jitters haven’t faded, either. Trump’s State of the Union speech is set for 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, drawing focus for any hints on trade or economic policy that might ripple through markets Wednesday.
