US stock futures mixed as midterm elections, Apple, Palantir weigh on markets

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Tuesday as Americans voted in the midterm elections, with Apple and Palantir shares falling after earnings reports that failed to satisfy investors. Dow Jones futures declined about 290 points, or 0.6%, while S&P 500 contracts fell 0.08% and Nasdaq 100 futures hovered near unchanged. The cautious mood followed Monday's session, where the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.07% and the S&P 500 fell 0.51%. The midterm elections will determine control of Congress and could reshape President Donald Trump's legislative agenda, with Democrats favored to win the House while Senate races remain tight. Apple weakened after forecasting December-quarter gross margins of 45%–46%, below September's 47.9%, due to rising memory chip costs, despite fourth-quarter revenue of $114.5 billion, up 12%. Oil prices recovered as hopes for a U.S.-Iran breakthrough faded, with Brent rising 1.76% to $106.61 per barrel after U.S. strikes near the Strait of Hormuz. September job openings data, due at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, could reshape Federal Reserve rate expectations, with economists forecasting about 7.1 million vacancies. Advanced Micro Devices reports after Tuesday's close, testing enthusiasm for AI infrastructure.