New York, February 24, 2026, 07:18 EST — Premarket
- Microsoft shares up 0.4% in premarket trading after sliding 3.2% on Monday
- Investors weigh fresh U.S. tariffs and a renewed wave of AI-driven selling in software names
- Nvidia and Salesforce report on Wednesday; Intuit follows on Thursday
Microsoft shares rose 0.4% in premarket trading on Tuesday, trimming a steep selloff that knocked the stock down 3.2% in the previous session. (Yahoo Finance)
The bounce came as U.S. stock index futures edged higher after Monday’s broad decline, with traders torn between tariff headlines and worries that artificial intelligence could upend parts of the software business. “The lack of clarity regarding their duration and scope keeps volatility elevated,” said Antonio Di Giacomo, senior market analyst at brokerage XS.com. (Reuters)
The policy backdrop shifted again overnight. The United States imposed a new 10% tariff on non-exempt imports on Tuesday, after President Donald Trump had floated a higher rate that has yet to be formalized, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (Reuters)
Monday’s drop hit megacap tech along with the rest of the market. Microsoft fell 3.21% to close at $384.47, while Amazon and Meta also ended lower, MarketWatch data showed. (MarketWatch)
Part of the selling in software was tied to a widely circulated memo from Citrini Research, framed by the authors as “a scenario, not a prediction,” that argued AI could evolve from a sector problem into a broader economic shock. (Citrini Research)
Investors also pointed to fast-moving competitive risks inside software itself. IBM sank 13.2% on Monday after Anthropic outlined new tools tied to automating COBOL modernization, a business where IBM has long had a strong position. (MarketWatch)
For Microsoft, the immediate question is whether Tuesday’s early bid holds once regular trading starts at 9:30 a.m. ET, or whether the market resumes cutting exposure to software ahead of key results.
A miss from AI bellwether Nvidia could quickly reopen the risk trade in the wrong direction, especially after the recent focus on whether big AI spending is translating into durable earnings power.
Nvidia is scheduled to discuss fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 results after the market close on Wednesday, February 25, with a conference call set for 5 p.m. ET, according to the company. (NVIDIA Newsroom)
Salesforce said it will release fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 results after the close on February 25, with a call also set for 5 p.m. ET. (Salesforce Investor Relations)
Intuit said it will report second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on February 26, with executives set to discuss results on a call at 1:30 p.m. PT. (Intuit Inc.)
Political risk stays on the tape as well. Trump is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, a focal point for any new trade or economic messaging that could move markets into Wednesday. (Reuters)
