Nvidia-driven AI optimism lifts US stock futures as tensions persist

U.S. stock futures ticked higher on Monday, helped by Nvidia’s announcement of a Windows-oriented AI processor (RTX Spark) that fuels AI excitement, even as renewed U.S.–Iran strikes heighten risk around a potential ceasefire. Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq‑100 futures were up about 0.2% at 08:34 ET, with Dell’s upbeat forecast supporting sentiment. Brent crude rose on Middle East tensions while gold fell and the dollar firmed; Nvidia gained roughly 2.3% in premarket trading, while peers like Intel, AMD and Qualcomm dipped on the chip-news backdrop.