Wall Street Futures Edge Higher After Sharp Selloff as Trade Turmoil and AI Fears Linger

U.S. stock index futures ticked higher on Tuesday, attempting a modest rebound after a sharp selloff in the previous session, as investors continued to grapple with mounting uncertainty over global trade policy and renewed fears of artificial intelligence–driven disruption ahead of key earnings from Nvidia.

By 05:45 ET (10:45 GMT), Dow Jones futures were up 60 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 futures gained 13 points, or 0.2%. Nasdaq 100 futures led the rebound, rising 66 points, or 0.3%.

The bounce followed a heavy selloff on Wall Street on Monday, as concerns over the impact of new AI models on corporate profitability and employment weighed heavily on sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 1.7%, the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.1%, and the S&P 500 dropped about 1%, slipping into negative territory for the year.

Investor anxiety was exacerbated by a report from Citrini Research, which outlined a bleak hypothetical scenario in which rapid advances in artificial intelligence trigger widespread white-collar job losses, weaken consumer spending, increase loan defaults, and ultimately push the economy toward contraction.

Trade Policy Uncertainty Deepens; FedEx Sues Over Tariff Refunds

Markets also remained on edge over the outlook for global trade after President Donald Trump’s new tariffs took effect overnight. Following last week’s Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs, a new 10% global tariff came into force at midnight on Tuesday, according to a notice from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The 10% levy is below the 15% rate Trump announced over the weekend, but Bloomberg News reported that the White House is preparing a formal order to raise tariffs to the higher level, adding to investor unease.

The shifting tariff framework has created confusion around the status of trade agreements previously negotiated by the Trump administration. With reports that some countries are reassessing whether those deals remain valid after the Supreme Court ruling, Trump warned trading partners in a social media post not to “play games.”

Adding to the uncertainty, FedEx (NYSE: FDX) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government on Monday seeking a “full refund” of emergency tariffs it paid over the past year. FedEx is the first major company to pursue refunds following the Supreme Court decision and joins a growing list of firms challenging the legality of Trump-era tariffs.

The court ruling left unresolved questions about the fate of tariff revenues already collected—estimated at more than $160 billion—further clouding the outlook for trade policy, corporate costs, and market stability.

Overall, while futures pointed to a tentative rebound, investors remain cautious as trade uncertainty, AI-related disruption fears, and high-profile earnings keep volatility elevated.