The US market: review and forecast for April 22. The auction will be held without sudden movements

We expect

The situation in the Middle East has once again moved to the forefront for investors. Yesterday evening, Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire until the completion of negotiations with Iran mediated by Pakistan. However, Tehran’s position remains unclear, and its initial response to Washington’s proposals appears skeptical. Markets interpret the extension as a temporary de-escalation, but the lack of a unified stance between the parties limits optimism. Amid geopolitical news, WTI crude oil fell below $90 per barrel after rising the previous day. Iran stated it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz while the naval blockade remains in place, and negotiations remain uncertain as Tehran refuses further talks. We still see a risk of a potential U.S. ground operation to gain control of the strait if dialogue fails to resume. Media reports indicate that the Pentagon continues to build up military forces in the region.

No major macroeconomic releases are scheduled, shifting investor focus toward geopolitics and corporate earnings growth, particularly in the AI segment.

Before the market opens, Vertiv Holdings (VRT), GE Vernova (GEV), Boeing (BA), AT&T (T), Boston Scientific (BSX), Philip Morris (PM), and CME Group (CME) will report. After the close, Tesla, Lam Research (LRCX), ServiceNow (NOW), IBM, Texas Instruments (TXN), CSX Corporation (CSX), and Kinder Morgan (KMI) will release results.

U.S. equity futures show moderate gains. The risk balance for the upcoming session is assessed as neutral with moderate volatility amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. The AI theme remains a key support factor, with NASDAQ 100 trading near highs and outperforming the broader market. A закрепление S&P 500 above 7135 could signal a shift toward a bullish scenario, while a drop below 7050 would increase downside risks.

Premarket highlights

· Manhattan Associates (MANH) rose 9% on strong earnings.
· GitLab gained ~5% on AWS partnership expansion.
· Target Hospitality (TH) fell 12% after announcing a share offering.
· Sonoco Products (SON) declined 7% on weak revenue.
· Calix (CALX) dropped 7% due to margin pressure.

Previous session

On April 21, U.S. markets closed lower: S&P 500 -0.63%, NASDAQ 100 -0.42%, Dow Jones -0.59%, Russell 2000 -1%.

Geopolitical tensions intensified the correction. Most “Magnificent Seven” stocks traded lower, while semiconductors and software showed relative resilience. Energy stocks (XLE +1.45%) led gains on rising oil prices, while real estate (XLRE -1.94%) lagged. Macroeconomic data was strong: retail sales rose 1.7%, and ADP data indicated improving employment trends.