US stock futures slipped on Tuesday as investors absorbed a fresh wave of earnings and waited for Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) to lead in the week's Big Tech results, seen as key to any future stock rally.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) edged down 0.2%, coming off a sharp gain as all the gauges closed higher. Futures on S&P 500 (ES=F) fell 0.1%, while contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) were little changed.

A crucial week for markets steps up a gear with the release of Alphabet's results, watched as a harbinger for signs that Big Tech's huge AI investments are delivering a payoff. The Google parent is the first of five "Magnificent Seven" megacaps due to report over the next three days, with the outcome seen as driving the direction of stocks to kick off November.

At the same time, investors are getting set for an influx of economic data, with readings on consumer confidence and job openings ahead. Updates on inflation and the jobs market later in the week are seen as key to the chances of Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts.

Read more: What the Fed rate cut means for bank accounts, CDs, loans, and credit cards

McDonald's (MCD) posted a third quarter revenue beat thanks to a rise in US sales, in the face of worries about a recent E.coli outbreak. The busiest week of earnings season is revving up, with PayPal (PYPL) and Pfizer (PFE) on the premarket docket. AMD (AMD), Chipotle (CMG), and Visa (V) are earnings are due out alongside Alphabet's after the bell.

Meanwhile, the US presidential election is injecting some uncertainty into markets in the final fierce days of campaigning. Trump Media & Technology Group stock (DJT) rose over 13% in premarket, set to build on Monday's 21% gain following Donald Trump's rally in New York at the weekend.