U.S. stock futures point lower after the White House announces its latest tariffs, which push stock of American steel and aluminum producers higher for a second day; Coca-Cola (KO) shares are jumping in premarket trading after the beverage giant’s results beat expectations; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declines an offer from an Elon Musk-led investment group to take control of the maker of ChatGPT; and BP (BP) says it will “fundamentally reset” its strategy. Here’s what investors need to know today.
1. US Stock Futures Point Lower as Investors Digest Tariffs, Earnings
U.S. stock futures are pointing lower as market participants evaluate new tariffs and watch for more corporate earning reports. Nasdaq futures are 0.5% lower after the tech-focused index moved 1% higher in the prior session. S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures also are lower after the indexes posted gains yesterday. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) and gold futures are down slightly. Yields on the 10-year Treasury note are inching higher and oil futures also are up.
2. Trump Steel, Aluminum Tariffs Push US Metal Producer Stocks Higher
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order implementing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports after announcing the plan over the weekend. The tariffs will reportedly go into effect March 4 and apply to the roughly 25 million tons of steel that the U.S. imports each year, primarily from Canada, Mexico, Brazil and South Korea. U.S. metal producer stocks are continuing to move higher on the news, with Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) advancing 4% in premarket trading, while Nucor (NUE), Steel Dynamics (STLD), U.S. Steel (X), and Alcoa (AA) also are moving higher.
3. Coca-Cola Q4 Results Top Estimates
Coca-Cola (KO) shares are rising 4% in premarket trading after the soda maker reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results. The company reported $11.54 billion in revenue, above the $10.85 billion posted a year ago and the $10.77 billion Visible Alpha consensus. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.55 beat last year’s $0.49 and the $0.52 expectation. Global unit case volumes grew 2% in the quarter, led by a 6% gain in the Asia Pacific region.
4. Musk-Led Investment Group Makes Offer for OpenAI
An Elon Musk-led investment group has made a $97.4 billion offer to buy the nonprofit controlling OpenAI, according to The Wall Street Journal. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on the Musk-owned social media platform wrote “no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want,” and later told CNBC that the offer was an attempt by Musk to “slow down a competitor.” The offer comes as SoftBank was recently said to be preparing a multibillion-dollar investment in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI that would value it well above $200 billion.
5. BP Says It Will ‘Fundamentally Reset’ Strategy
Shares of BP (BP) are edging lower in premarket trading after CEO Murray Auchincloss said the British oil giant would “fundamentally reset” i