US stock futures falter on AI jitters, Nasdaq braces for steep monthly fall

• Dow futures down 0.55%, S&P 500 futures down 0.36%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.31% in premarket trading, with the Nasdaq closing below its 50-day moving average for the 17th consecutive session
• Mixed corporate results added to volatility: Zscaler fell 9.1% on weak billings, Intuit dropped 3.6% on profit miss, while Dell surged 10.6% on AI server revenue expectations and Block jumped 19% on workforce restructuring plans
• Trump's temporary 10% global tariff that took effect Tuesday compounded market uncertainty after the Supreme Court voided most of his previous year's duties, contributing to heightened volatility

Market Summary: US Stock Futures Decline on AI Concerns and Tech Volatility

Market Overview:

U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday, February 27, with Dow futures down 0.55%, S&P 500 futures off 0.36%, and Nasdaq futures declining 0.31%. The Nasdaq is facing its steepest monthly drop since March 2025, driven by persistent AI-related concerns.

Key Market Drivers:

Growing uncertainty around returns on massive AI infrastructure spending continues to weigh on technology stocks. The Nasdaq has closed below its 50-day moving average for 17 consecutive sessions, signaling weak intermediate-term momentum. Additional volatility stems from tariff uncertainty following President Trump's announcement of a temporary 10% global tariff that took effect Tuesday, after the Supreme Court voided previously imposed duties.

Notable Company Movements:

*Decliners:*

• Zscaler: down 9.1% on disappointing results
• Intuit: fell 3.6% after reporting third-quarter profit below estimates
• Duolingo: plunged 25% on weak Q1 and 2026 bookings guidance
• Nvidia: edged up 0.4% after a 5% drop the previous session, reflecting fragile AI sentiment

*Gainers:*

• Block: surged 19% on plans to cut 4,000+ jobs in AI-focused restructuring
• Dell: jumped 10.6% on expectations for doubling AI server revenue in fiscal 2027
• Netflix: rose 7.4% after winning Warner Bros Discovery content rights
• Paramount Skydance: gained 7.8% on asset acquisition

Economic Context:

Investors await January producer price data for insights into the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory, with the report due before the market open.