Market Overview: Indexes Poised for Cautious Gains
U.S. stock futures are pointing to a slightly higher open on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, as markets today continue to digest President Donald Trump’s latest tariff announcements. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 82 points (0.2%), while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures both moved up 0.2% in early morning trading.
The stock market today follows a mixed session on Tuesday where the S&P 500 inched down 0.07%, the Nasdaq Composite added a marginal 0.03%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost nearly 0.4%. Global markets showed modest resilience with Japan’s Nikkei 225, South Korea’s Kospi, and Europe’s Stoxx 600 all posting slight gains despite the tariff concerns.
Copper prices have been particularly volatile, with LME copper sliding as much as 2.4% after Tuesday’s dramatic 13% surge, as traders react to Trump’s threat of a 50% levy on copper imports.
Trump’s Tariff Policies Continue to Drive Market Sentiment
Market news today remains dominated by trade policy developments. President Trump has maintained his stance on implementing new tariff rates ranging from 25% to 40% on 14 countries, including Japan and South Korea, set to begin on August 1. This comes after he extended his original July 9 deadline, giving trading partners three additional weeks to negotiate trade deals with the U.S.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump confirmed there would be no further changes or extensions to these announced duties. Additionally, he threatened to impose up to 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals imported into the U.S., though he indicated these would not take effect for “about a year, year and a half.”
“The tariff announcement was a reminder that markets are not out of the woods. The White House has not really achieved their goals on trade, and that could be a continued source of volatility,” said Scott Helfstein, Global X head of investment strategy.
Notable Premarket Movers
Several stocks are making significant moves in premarket trading:
Indivior (INDV) is plummeting more than 36% following a concerning business update.
Helen Of Troy (HELE) shares are diving over 23% after releasing disappointing earnings ahead of its scheduled report. The company was expected to report earnings of $0.90 per share.
First Solar (FSLR) shares fell 2% following Monday’s announcement that President Trump’s new legislation will end clean energy subsidies. Other clean energy companies are also affected, with SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) and Enphase Energy (ENPH) both dropping 4%.
Tesla (TSLA) stock rebounded 1% in premarket trading after closing 6% down on Monday. CEO Elon Musk’s announcement about starting a new “America Party” political movement continues to create volatility for the electric vehicle maker.
Alaska Airlines (AAL) stock rose 3% after receiving a positive earnings preview from UBS Securities, which expects the airline’s second-quarter earnings per share to align with company guidance due to stabilizing demand.
Earnings Calendar: Key Reports to Watch
Today’s markets will be influenced by several notable earnings reports:
AZZ (AZZ) is scheduled to report after the close, with analysts expecting earnings of $1.58 per share.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) will report its second-quarter results before Thursday’s opening bell, providing important insights into the travel sector amid tariff-related uncertainties. Wall Street expects Delta to report second-quarter EPS of $2.02 on revenue of $15.4 billion. The airline previously withdrew its optimistic forecast for 2025, citing “broad economic uncertainty around global trade.”
Other companies reporting this week include Conagra (CAG), Simply Good Foods (SMPL), Levi Strauss (LEVI), and PriceSmart (PSMT).
Economic Data and Federal Reserve Focus
Traders will be closely monitoring the release of the Federal Open Market Committee’s minutes from its last meeting, expected later today. These minutes could provide additional insights into the Fed’s thinking on interest rates amid the evolving trade situation.
The stock market live action today will likely be influenced by both these Fed minutes and any further developments on the tariff front, as investors continue to assess the potential economic impact of Trump’s trade policies.
Market Outlook
As premarket movers indicate, today’s trading session is likely to see sector-specific reactions to Trump’s tariff policies, particularly in clean energy, pharmaceuticals, and metals. The broader market appears to be taking a cautious approach, with modest gains expected at the open but potential for volatility throughout the day.
Investors will be watching closely for any signs of progress in trade negotiations with key U.S. partners, as well as for indications of how companies plan to navigate the changing trade landscape in their upcoming earnings reports.
The S&P 500 currently stands at 6,230.06, the Dow Jones at 44,282.23, and the Nasdaq at 20,437.35, with all three major indexes poised for a day of careful trading as market participants digest the latest developments in global trade relations.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.