Today’s Top Stories: Alphabet and Tesla Earnings, Oil Prices and AT&T Buyback in Focus

TLDR

• Alphabet and Tesla report earnings after the bell, with AI and consumer demand in focus
• Super Micro Computer beat profit forecasts and flagged strong AI server demand
• Brent crude climbed above $95 a barrel on rising Middle East tensions
• AT&T announced a $10 billion share buyback after strong quarterly results
• Semiconductor stocks pulled back as traders reduced risk ahead of Big Tech earnings

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Alphabet and Tesla Set to Drive Market Sentiment

All eyes on Wall Street are fixed on Alphabet and Tesla as both companies prepare to report quarterly earnings after the closing bell.

Investors want to know how Alphabet’s cloud business and Gemini AI projects are performing, and whether advertising revenue is holding up.

For Tesla, the focus is on delivery numbers, profit margins and any updates on autonomous driving progress.

Both companies carry huge weight in the major U.S. indexes, so their results could move broader market sentiment beyond just their own share prices.

Management guidance will matter just as much as the numbers themselves, especially anything related to AI spending and capital plans for the rest of the year.

Super Micro Computer Strengthens AI Hardware Story

Super Micro Computer was one of the standout performers after reporting better-than-expected profit margins.

The company also pointed to a growing order backlog, showing that businesses are still spending heavily on artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Super Micro has close ties with Nvidia and other chipmakers, supplying high-performance servers used to run AI workloads. Its results add another data point suggesting AI hardware demand remains strong.

Oil Climbs as Middle East Tensions Rise

Brent crude pushed above $95 a barrel as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensified.

Investors are watching the Strait of Hormuz closely, as any disruption to shipping there could tighten global oil supplies quickly.

Higher oil prices increase costs for businesses and consumers, adding pressure on inflation. If prices stay elevated, expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts later this year could shift, making energy one of the key risks for markets right now.

AT&T Rewards Shareholders With $10 Billion Buyback

AT&T posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, driven by its wireless and broadband businesses.

The company also announced a $10 billion share repurchase programme, which was well received by investors.

Buybacks signal that management is confident in the company’s financial position. They also reduce the number of shares in circulation, which can lift earnings per share over time.

Semiconductor Stocks Take a Breather

After a strong rally on Tuesday, semiconductor stocks traded more cautiously.

Nvidia, AMD and Micron all stayed near recent highs, but traders chose to reduce exposure before hearing fresh guidance from Alphabet and Tesla, two of the chip industry’s biggest customers.

The pause does not reflect a change in the long-term view on AI. Most analysts still expect demand for advanced chips, servers and cloud infrastructure to be one of the strongest growth areas in technology over the coming years.

This week’s earnings are expected to give the clearest read yet on whether that outlook holds.