Nasdaq Futures Slip as Chip Stocks Weigh on US Equity Markets Despite Strong Corporate Earnings

US equity index futures traded mixed on Thursday as weakness in semiconductor stocks offset resilience across several traditional sectors, with investors continuing to assess corporate earnings and the outlook for artificial intelligence investment.

Futures tied to the Nasdaq 100 fell about 1%, pressured by declines in AI-related chipmakers. Meanwhile, futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were little changed.

The selloff followed declines across Asian semiconductor stocks as investors reassessed expectations for future capital spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure by major technology companies.

The sector also came under pressure after South Korea moved to restrict leveraged exchange-traded funds focused on chip stocks, while new efficiency signals from Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML added to concerns that future computing demand could become less hardware-intensive.

In premarket trading, Micron Technology fell about 4%, while Nvidia, AMD, Sandisk, and Broadcom each declined roughly 3%.

Despite the weakness in technology, several traditional sectors remained resilient.

Shares of UnitedHealth Group climbed approximately 7% in premarket trading after the company reported stronger-than-expected June-quarter earnings and raised its full-year guidance.

Eli Lilly also edged higher after announcing its $2.8 billion acquisition of AtaiBeckley, expanding its presence in the mental health treatment market.

The financial sector continued to outperform during the current earnings season, supported by a series of solid quarterly results released throughout the week.

Meanwhile, GE Aerospace fell about 4% in premarket trading following the release of its quarterly earnings report.