US Stock Futures Rise Amid Google Victory, TSMC Restrictions, and Macy's Strong Earnings

US stock futures are pointing higher, with Alphabet's Google receiving a favorable court ruling, the US restricting chip equipment transfers to China, Macy's beating quarterly profit and same-store sales estimates, and Meta Platforms poaching a top AI researcher from Apple. Nasdaq futures are up 0.7%, S&P 500 futures are 0.5% higher, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are little changed. Alphabet stock is surging 6%, TSMC's US-listed shares are up about 1%, and Macy's shares are jumping nearly 13%.

US stock futures are indicating a positive start to the day, with Alphabet's Google experiencing a significant boost following a favorable court ruling. The ruling has alleviated antitrust concerns, allowing the company to maintain its operations without divesting its video hosting and broadcasting site, YouTube. Alphabet's stock is surging by 6%, reflecting investor confidence in the company's long-term growth prospects [1].

The ruling comes on the heels of a previous antitrust decision that avoided a structural breakup of Google's core assets, such as Chrome and Android, while imposing behavioral restrictions. Analysts have hailed this as a "best-case outcome," raising their price target for Alphabet to $270 from $235 [1]. This favorable regulatory environment enables Alphabet to focus on innovation and strategic investments in high-growth areas like AI and cloud computing.

Meanwhile, the US has restricted chip equipment transfers to China by revoking Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) authorization to export US chipmaking equipment without a license. TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, confirmed receiving official notification that its validated end-user authorization for its Nanjing facility will end on December 31, 2025. The company is evaluating the situation and communicating with US authorities while ensuring uninterrupted operations at its Chinese plant [3].

The decision further restricts China’s access to American technology and is part of a broader effort to limit technology exports to China. TSMC produces semiconductors for major clients including Nvidia and Apple across various applications. The US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security will allow former validated end-user participants 120 days to apply for export licenses after publishing new rules. Licenses will permit existing China-based plants to continue operations but not expand capacity or upgrade technology.

In other news, Macy's has beaten quarterly profit and same-store sales estimates, with shares jumping nearly 13%. The retail giant has been focusing on digital transformation and improving its online presence to compete with e-commerce giants.

Lastly, Meta Platforms has poached a top AI researcher from Apple. Jian Zhang, Apple's lead AI researcher for robotics, has joined Meta's Robotics Studio. This move comes amidst a wave of AI talent departures from Apple, with at least a dozen AI experts leaving the company since January 2025 [2]. The exodus has raised concerns about Apple's ability to maintain its competitive edge in the AI field. Meta has been aggressive in its recruitment efforts, offering lucrative compensation packages to attract top AI talent.

Nasdaq futures are up 0.7%, S&P 500 futures are 0.5% higher, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are little changed. Alphabet stock is surging 6%, TSMC's US-listed shares are up about 1%, and Macy's shares are jumping nearly 13%.

References:
[1] Alphabet Stock Eyes Fresh Record After 'Monster Win' In ... [https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/alphabet-eyes-fresh-record-after-monster-win-in-antitrust-ruling/chwTSfHRdFK]
[2] The Long-Term Implications of Google's Antitrust Ruling for ... [https://www.ainvest.com/news/long-term-implications-google-antitrust-ruling-big-tech-ai-ecosystem-2509/]
[3] Alphabet's Google (GOOGL) Likely to Avoid Breakup, But ... [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/alphabet-google-googl-likely-avoid-225809362.html]