Wall Street is on edge due to inflation, but the tech giant's report could change market sentiment. The main question now is whether the potential of the AI sector will be a strong enough argument to counteract the negative impact of macroeconomic factors.

The American stock market has finally found a reason for optimism. Thursday's morning trading in Asia was marked by a confident rise in futures for key US stock indices, with Nvidia being the main driver of the bullish sentiment.

The company's report was a true balm for investors who had been under pressure in recent sessions due to rising bond yields and fears that the sky-high market quotes of tech giants leave no room for error.

Nvidia's triumph and a green light for stock indices

The world's largest AI chip manufacturer didn't just meet but exceeded expectations. Nvidia's quarterly revenue more than doubled year-on-year, and income from the data center segment soared by an impressive 117%.

Moreover, the company sent a powerful signal to the market: the AI infrastructure boom is not slowing down. The revenue forecast for the 2028 fiscal year anticipates an additional 70% growth.

The market reacted instantly: in after-hours trading, Nvidia's shares jumped nearly 5%. This triumph lifted the entire tech sector.

As of 09:29 Moscow time, futures were confidently rising:

• S&P 500 increased by 0.3%, reaching 7,710.75 points.
• Nasdaq 100 rose by 0.5% to 29,442.75 points.
• Dow Jones went up by 0.2%, reaching 53,628.00 points.

Fly in the ointment and the shadow of Jackson Hole

However, the euphoria from AI cannot completely overshadow macroeconomic fears. On Wednesday, Wall Street closed slightly down (S&P 500 -0.02%, Nasdaq -0.1%, Dow -0.2%), digesting fresh and far from cheerful inflation data.

The personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE) accelerated to 3.7% year-on-year in July, exceeding economists' forecast of 3.6%. As a reminder, this index is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge. Month-on-month, prices rose by 0.2% instead of the expected 0.1%.

The markets are in wait-and-see mode, with all attention focused on the symposium in Jackson Hole. We await the speech from Kevin Warsh (Fed). The main intrigue is the future of interest rates: easing or continuation of tight policy? The answer to this question will be the primary market driver in the near future.

Earnings Season: Heroes and Underdogs

On this evening, Nvidia is not alone. The earnings season has yielded a rich harvest of other bright releases that investors closely analyzed after the stock exchanges closed:

1. Salesforce delighted Wall Street by exceeding revenue expectations for the second quarter, soaring 14% in expanded trading.
2. CrowdStrike improved its annual revenue forecast, which allowed its shares to gain 9%.
3. Synopsys also released its quarterly report, staying in the spotlight of tech investors.

But there were also losses: HP plunged 9% amid disheartening statistics regarding the decline in personal computer shipments.

So, the market is at a crossroads. The AI rally is trying to pull the indices to new heights, but inflation and the Fed's rhetoric keep buyers on edge. The battle between faith in technological breakthroughs and macroeconomic negativity is in full swing. We will keep an eye on developments.