Wall Street Futures Climb as TSMC’s Record Earnings Outshine Trade Tensions

U.S. stock futures edged higher on Thursday, lifted by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) blockbuster third-quarter results, which reassured investors amid renewed U.S.-China trade frictions.

TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, reported revenue of $33.1 billion, up more than 30% year-over-year, with profits surging nearly 39% thanks to booming demand for artificial intelligence chips. The company also raised its full-year outlook, signaling confidence that AI-driven growth will continue to fuel the semiconductor sector.

The upbeat earnings rippled across Wall Street:

• Nasdaq 100 futures rose about 0.6%, buoyed by gains in AI-linked stocks like Nvidia.
• S&P 500 futures advanced roughly 0.5%, while
• Dow Jones Industrial Average futures added 0.3%, despite its smaller tech weighting.

These gains came even as escalating U.S.-China trade tensions injected fresh uncertainty into global markets. Washington and Beijing have recently exchanged new tariff threats and export restrictions, sparking fears of supply chain disruptions.

Still, for now, investors appear more focused on the strength of corporate earnings than on geopolitical risks. TSMC’s stellar performance has reinforced optimism that the AI boom could help offset broader economic headwinds.