Stocks Stabilize Amid Tariff Uncertainty as GameStop, Dollar Tree Lead Premarket Gains

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U.S. stock futures traded flat on Wednesday, March 26, as investors navigated shifting signals from President Trump on impending tariffs and digested corporate developments.

The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq futures showed minimal movement after three consecutive days of gains for the major indices.

Key Premarket Movers

GameStop (GME) surged 16% after its board approved a plan to allocate corporate funds to bitcoin, mirroring strategies like MicroStrategy’s. The video game retailer reported a 28% year-over-year revenue decline in Q4 but exceeded profit expectations with a net income of $131.3 million.

Dollar Tree (DLTR) rose ~3% on reports it’s nearing a $1 billion sale of its Family Dollar division to private-equity firms, part of restructuring efforts to address underperforming stores.

Tesla (TSLA) dipped ~1% premarket after a five-session rally, with shares still ~40% below December 2024 highs. CEO Elon Musk’s recent push for employee stock retention and optimism around self-driving tech had fueled the rebound.

Tariff Turbulence and Copper Surge

Copper futures hit a record high of $5.374 per pound amid reports the U.S. may impose tariffs on imports sooner than expected, potentially benefiting miners like Freeport-McMoRan.

Trump’s mixed signals on reciprocal tariffs—suggesting flexibility last week but later emphasizing limited exceptions—kept markets on edge.

Global Markets and Economic Data

Asian equities mirrored Wall Street’s muted tone, with Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s KOSPI rising modestly. The U.S. dollar strengthened against the yen, while oil prices edged higher.

Consumer confidence data showed Americans’ short-term expectations at 12-year lows, though analysts noted a disconnect between sentiment and resilient hard economic data like housing starts.

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