Stock futures faced a downward trend on Tuesday as investors navigated through various factors. Earnings reports from major retailers and the awaited results of Nvidia (NVDA) tomorrow played a significant role. Geopolitical tensions also added to the sentiment, weighing on the markets.

Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Stock Futures

Investor Sentiment and Earnings Reports

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 0.5%, while those linked to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down 0.3% and 0.2% respectively. On Monday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq had ended higher as the market recovered some of the losses from the previous week. This post-election rally had started to fade, causing concerns among investors. Market participants were closely monitoring reports of Ukraine firing U.S.-made missiles into Russia and the news of Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a revised nuclear doctrine that lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons. These events added to the uncertainty in the markets.Among stocks in premarket trading on Tuesday, Walmart (WMT) shares saw a significant increase of nearly 4%. The world's largest retailer reported quarterly results that surpassed analysts' expectations and raised its outlook for sales and earnings. However, shares of Lowe's (LOW) slipped about 1% despite reporting better-than-expected results. The retailer cited "continued softness" in big-ticket discretionary spending.

Server Maker Super Micro Computer's Turnaround

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) emerged as the biggest gainer this morning, rising by 30%. The beleaguered server maker and Nvidia partner named a new auditor and filed a compliance plan to avoid delisting by the Nasdaq. This move provided some relief to the company and its investors.

Mega-Cap Technology Stocks and Their Performance

Nvidia shares were up 1.5%, making it the only member of the 'Magnificent 7' group of mega-cap technology stocks in positive territory ahead of the bell on Tuesday. Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta Platforms (META), and Tesla (TSLA) were all losing ground. This showed the varying performance within the technology sector.In the midst of increased geopolitical concerns, gold futures were up about 1% to $2,640 an ounce. Crude oil futures fell slightly, while Bitcoin was trading around $92,500, up about $2,000 from its overnight low and not far from its record high.The yield on 10-year Treasurys, which had been rising in recent weeks as investors scaled back their expectations about the Federal Reserve's rate-cutting actions, decreased to 4.37% from 4.41% on Monday. This indicated a shift in the market's perception of interest rates.Overall, Tuesday's market was a mix of gains and losses, with different sectors and stocks responding differently to the various factors at play. Investors were closely watching these developments and waiting to see how the week would unfold.