US equity futures were pointing higher before the opening bell Tuesday as markets attempted to recover from the financial volatility ignited by President Donald Trump's recent tariffs.

The S&P 500 gained 1.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average inclined 1.8% and the Nasdaq added 1.1% in premarket activity. The S&P 500 and the Dow each finished Monday's trading session in the red, while the Nasdaq Composite, which entered a bear market Friday, moved up 0.1%.

China's commerce ministry reportedly said on Tuesday that Beijing will "fight to the end" if the US imposes the additional 50% tariffs threatened by Trump recently. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that reports about the Trump administration considering a 90-day pause on tariffs are "fake news," according to media publications.

"With tariff policies and slowing economic data driving the ongoing equity index decline, markets could find a bottom if tariffs are pulled back or delayed," D.A. Davidson said in an emailed note. "In a best-case scenario, we still believe that President Trump is receptive to trade negotiations on terms favorable to the US."

Shares of United States Steel (X) rose 1.8% pre-bell after closing the previous session with a 16% jump after Trump ordered a new regulatory review on the company's proposed acquisition by Nippon Steel. Broadcom (AVGO) advanced 3.9% after the chipmaker announced an up to $10 billion share repurchase program. Levi Strauss (LEVI) climbed 13% as the apparel company reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter earnings and maintained its full-year outlook.

US Treasury yields moved higher in premarket action with the two-year rate rising 1.9 basis points to 3.75%, while the 10-year rate was up 2.6 points to 4.19%.

Key inflation data is out later in the week with the consumer price index report for March due Thursday followed by the producer price index for the same month on Friday. On Tuesday's economic calendar, the National Federation of Independent Business small business optimism index showed a 3.3-point fall in March to 97.4.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly is scheduled to speak at 2 pm ET.

RPM International (RPM), WD-40 (WDFC) and Tilray Brands (TLRY) report their latest financial results before the bell. Wall Street banking heavyweights JPMorgan (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC) and Bank of New York Mellon (BK) release quarterly earnings later this week, along with Constellation Brands (STZ), BlackRock (BLK) and Delta Air Lines (DAL).

West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased 0.5% to $61.03. Bitcoin traded up 1% at $79,092. Gold grew 1.7% to $3,023 an ounce.