Stock futures now hint at cautious optimism

Stock futures now hint at cautious optimism, as Asian market rallies inspire U.S. traders. Futures for the Nasdaq are outperforming, fueled by renewed buying in AI-linked stocks after updated demand forecasts. CCOI’s upcoming announcement (likely in early November) is now a must-watch given potential dividend cut risk. The chipmaker said in an 8-K filing that the U.S. Department of Commerce's "BIS Affiliates Rule" will limit Applied Materials' ability to export some products and provide certain parts and services to China-based customers without a license. Stock futures now trade slightly higher, supported by an uptick in crude oil prices and strong retail sector guidance. Futures for the Russell 2000 are up 0.4%, suggesting small-cap resilience could be in play if macro data remains stable.