U.S. stocks set for higher open as strong earnings boost market sentiment
U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, driven by strong corporate earnings from 3M, General Motors, and Novartis, which all reported better-than-expected quarterly results and raised guidance. Nasdaq 100 futures rose about 1.2%, led by technology stocks. However, gains were tempered by a 2% rise in crude oil prices amid ongoing U.S.-Iran military tensions, raising concerns about inflation and interest rates. The positive sentiment follows a down Monday where the Dow fell 307 points, the S&P 500 declined 0.2%, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.1%, pressured by rising Treasury yields and geopolitical risks. Investors are now awaiting key earnings reports from Alphabet, IBM, and Tesla later this week for insights into AI spending and corporate demand. The Conference Board also reported a 0.2% decline in its Leading Economic Index for June, slightly worse than expected.
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