Stock Markets June 23, 2026 07:56 AM

Tech-led slide drags U.S. futures lower as SpaceX, Nike and AI-linked names stir volatility

Nasdaq futures post steep losses; SpaceX swings after a plunge while Zeta Global gains on a Palantir tie-up

By Derek Hwang
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NKE ZETA

U.S. stock index futures dropped sharply in early trading as technology and AI-related equities led declines. Nasdaq 100 futures fell the most, with the S&P 500 and Dow also weaker. Individual movers included volatile SpaceX shares, a downgrade-led decline for Nike, and a gain for Zeta Global after a strategic partnership announcement with Palantir.

Tech-led slide drags U.S. futures lower as SpaceX, Nike and AI-linked names stir volatility
NKE ZETA
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Key Points

  • Technology and AI-linked stocks led a sharp premarket sell-off, with Nasdaq futures falling more than S&P and Dow futures.
  • SpaceX shares remained volatile after posting a 16.4% decline in the previous session, though they recovered modestly in premarket trade.
  • Nike was pressured after Evercore ISI downgraded the stock and cut its price target; Zeta Global rose following an announced partnership with Palantir to integrate data and AI infrastructure.

U.S. equity futures opened notably lower on Tuesday, with technology and artificial intelligence-linked names driving the early weakness across markets. By 07:56 ET, futures tied to the S&P 500 had fallen 1.2%, Nasdaq 100 futures were down 2.6% and Dow Jones futures had eased 0.4% as investors reassessed valuations in a sector that has enjoyed an extended rally.

The premarket environment showed renewed selling pressure in AI and semiconductor stocks, prompting a broader re-pricing in technology exposure ahead of the cash open. Below are the most significant premarket movers highlighted by early trade.


SpaceX experienced continued volatility following a steep decline in the prior session. The company's shares sank 16.4% the day before after a research house signaled concern over valuation following the stock's sharp post-IPO increases. In early trading the position retraced some of that drop and was last showing a 1.4% gain in premarket trade.

Nike traded lower in the premarket, slipping 1.4% after Evercore ISI moved the sportswear maker from Outperform to In Line and trimmed its price target to $46 from $57. The brokerage cited a slower-than-expected recovery, persistent wholesale channel difficulties and fiscal 2027 revenue guidance that it considered weaker than anticipated.

Zeta Global stood out among gainers, climbing 5% in premarket activity. The marketing-technology firm said it entered into a strategic collaboration with Palantir Technologies to create a joint data and AI infrastructure for enterprise marketing. The deal will integrate Zeta's Data Cloud with Palantir's Foundry platform with the aim of improving customers' real-time decision-making capabilities.

Overall, the early session underscored the market's sensitivity to valuation shifts in AI-focused segments and the impact of broker callbacks on individual names. The movement in large technology-linked futures contrasted with more modest action elsewhere on the tape.


Market snapshot as of 07:56 ET: S&P 500 futures -1.2%, Nasdaq 100 futures -2.6%, Dow Jones futures -0.4%.

Risks

  • Valuation reassessment in AI and semiconductor sectors could extend downside pressure on technology-focused indices and related exchange-traded products.
  • Brokerage downgrades and reduced guidance, as illustrated by the Nike Evercore ISI action, may weigh on consumer discretionary and retail-equipment exposures tied to wholesale channel performance.
  • Volatility in individual names, exemplified by SpaceX's large prior-session drop followed by a partial recovery, increases uncertainty for equity investors in single-stock positions.

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