S&P futures are down (0.2%) and pointing to a slightly lower open today. Asian markets delivered a mixed performance on Tuesday. AI-related tech stocks underpinned the gains in Japan and Korea, while Mainland China and Australia both saw modest losses. Tuesday’s session saw Monday’s rally fade amid a lack of catalysts and mixed U.S. futures. The brief lift from the U.S. government shutdown resolution gave way to familiar concerns: stretched valuations, earnings quality, uneven economic data, and trade risks. Trade was in focus after reports that Beijing is reviewing a rare-earth export framework that could limit access for companies linked to the U.S. defense sector. Despite the softer tone, Singapore and Indonesia each notched new record highs. European equity markets are higher in early trades, building on Monday’s strong performance.

Companies Mentioned: C3.ai, Boeing, NVIDIA