Asian stocks slip as AI fears dampen markets; Brent near $100
Asian stocks slip as AI fears dampen markets; Brent near $100
Asian equities fall amid tech selloffs and AI-investment anxieties, while oil hovers around $100 as inflation fears rise.
Asian stocks opened lower in early trading as a tech-led selloff on Wall Street, driven by concerns over AI investment returns ahead of key earnings. Treasuries rose and oil prices kept inflation fears elevated, cooling bets on rapid Fed rate cuts and underscoring the fragility of the global equity rally.
Oil markets held Brent near the $100 per barrel mark amid geopolitical risk in West Asia, with Hormuz tensions shaping energy routes for years to come. Analysts warn prices could stay high, fueling inflation worries even as equities wobble and investors rotate away from high-growth tech plays.
In the United States, major indices finished lower as AI growth worries resurfaced ahead of big tech results. The pullback followed a run of gains and kept traders focused on earnings signals from marquee AI firms while the Fed's inflation trajectory remained a key factor.
Among S&P 500 movers, Centene and Franklin Resources posted gains, while Alexandria Real Estate and Zimmer Biomet traded lower, illustrating a broader risk-off rotation as investors reassess growth prospects.
Analysts say the mix of an energy shock cycle and an AI-driven rally could define market moves in the near term, urging caution and selective exposure as earnings season unfolds.
