Before The Bell, 2-19-2025

Stock futures took a nosedive on Wednesday morning as investors braced themselves for the latest gossip from the Federal Reserve and mulled over President Donald Trump's newest tariff teasers. The latest plot twist? A potential 25% import tax on cars, meds, and chips (not the potato kind) sold in the U.S. Meanwhile, Intel (INTC) shares took a tumble after whispers of a private equity firm trying to snag part of the chipmaker's biz. On the flip side, Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares strutted upwards, riding the wave of strong AI revenue vibes. Investors are also glued to Apple (AAPL), eagerly awaiting the reveal of a new budget-friendly iPhone model.

Today's must-know investor tidbits:

1. Stock Futures Slip as Investors Juggle Tariffs and Fed Anticipation

Stock futures mostly took a dip in the premarket, as investors juggled the latest tariff drama from the White House and prepped for the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes, which might drop hints about future interest rate shenanigans. Futures tied to the S&P 500 inched down a bit after the index hit an all-time high during Tuesday's session, the first new record in a month. Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average also pointed downwards, while the Nasdaq futures dared to rise. Meanwhile, oil futures and gold futures both decided to climb, and Bitcoin (BTCUSD) was on a roll, trading above $96,000. Treasury yields were also in on the upward action.

2. Trump Throws Down a 25% Tariff Gauntlet on Autos, Chips, and Meds

President Donald Trump’s latest tariff proposal could slap a 25% or more import tax on automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals entering the U.S. The Wall Street Journal spilled the beans that U.S. companies might get a grace period, with the tariff possibly cranking up over time. Bloomberg hinted that an official tariff announcement might hit by April 2. Last year, the U.S. imported a whopping 8 million passenger cars and light trucks, about half of all vehicle sales in the country. This new proposal follows Trump’s earlier tariff tales of a 10% hike on Chinese goodies and a 25% tax on imported steel and aluminum.

3. Intel Shares Take a Hit Amid Chip Unit Negotiation Drama

Intel shares took a near 3% dive in premarket trading. The buzz is that private equity firm Silver Lake Management is on the verge of sealing a deal to snag Intel’s Altera programmable chips unit, according to a Bloomberg scoop on Tuesday. This drop comes after Intel's stock soared 16% in the previous session on news that Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. were eyeing parts of the chipmaker. Despite the recent rise, the stock has shed over a third of its value in the past year, though recent gains have softened the blow.

4. Super Micro Keeps Climbing Thanks to AI Hype

Super Micro Computer shares jumped about 6% in premarket trading. The server maker, which had been struggling, saw its shares rocket 16% in the previous session, marking a four-day winning streak. Supermicro’s stock has been on the up since it predicted last week that it would see major sales growth in 2026 thanks to demand for AI servers. The company forecasted revenue to hit $40 billion in 2026, a 60% boost from its 2025 projections, driven by AI infrastructure demand. Its shares have surged about 40% since last week's update.

5. Apple Prepares to Unveil Budget-Friendly iPhone with AI Perks

Apple shares stayed pretty steady in early trading, ahead of an expected product reveal today, which some analysts think will introduce a low-cost iPhone. Morgan Stanley predicts the iPhone SE4 will be priced at $499 and come with Apple Intelligence, which CEO Tim Cook claims is fueling record iPhone upgrades. Over the past year, Apple shares have gained about a third of their value.