Selloff

• Tech stocks, including industry giants Nvidia and Alphabet, experienced a second consecutive day of declines as investor sentiment shifted. • The selloff is driven by Wall Street's transition from rewarding AI spending to demanding concrete evidence of outsized financial returns. • Market volatility is further compounded by rising interest rate expectations, with CME Group data showing a nearly 90% chance of a Fed rate hike by year-end, up from 57% a week prior.

• US stock market futures for the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones are falling as AI-related fears trigger a global sell-off in technology stocks. • The decline is exacerbated by high borrowing levels among investors, which increases market volatility and accelerates selling pressure during downturns. • This tech-driven slump has overshadowed positive geopolitical news, including easing tensions involving Iran, which investors are largely ignoring.

• Asian markets plummeted on Tuesday, highlighted by South Korea's KOSPI index falling nearly 10% and triggering a trading halt. • The crash was driven by tech sector profit-taking, fears of U.S. interest rate hikes, and reports that SK Hynix is scaling back its HBM4 expansion. • The downturn extended to major firms like Alphabet and SpaceX, while S&P 500 Futures dipped 1%, suggesting further losses for Wall Street.

• Citi reports that U.S. equity positioning has become "cleaner" following a market selloff last week, reducing some of the previous overextension. • Despite the improvement, Citi warns that risks remain as exposures in several key areas stay elevated, potentially leaving the market vulnerable. • This shift matters because it indicates a partial reset in investor sentiment, though the lack of a full correction could lead to further volatility.

• Asian markets experienced a significant downturn, led by South Korea's benchmark Kospi index, which crashed nearly 9% due to a tech selloff. • The severity of the Kospi's decline triggered a circuit breaker, resulting in a temporary halt of all trading activity. • Other regional markets also fell, with Japan's Nikkei 225 dropping 3.4% and Hong Kong Hang Seng index futures trading lower than Friday's close of 24,961.95.

• Global tech stocks have experienced a significant plunge as the previous AI-driven rally undergoes a market correction. • The selloff is being driven by increasing investor bets on Federal Reserve rate hikes and a strengthening U.S. dollar. • This volatility highlights the market's sensitivity to monetary policy and the sustainability of high valuations within the AI sector.

• South Korea's KOSPI index plunged 8% on Monday, triggering a 20-minute circuit breaker halt to stabilize the market. • The crash was driven by a broader US semiconductor selloff, causing major tech giants Samsung and SK Hynix to drop 10%. • This volatility highlights the sensitivity of Asian equities to US tech trends, though Bitcoin remained relatively stable near $63,000.

• Investor Manishi Raychaudhuri views the recent sharp sell-off in Asian tech stocks, particularly in Korean and Taiwanese markets, as a strategic buying opportunity. • He argues that the downturn is driven by temporary sentiment rather than fundamentals, as AI capital expenditure demand and semiconductor prices remain strong. • Conversely, Raychaudhuri warns that India faces a more critical issue with declining corporate earnings growth that must be addressed.

• South Korea's Kospi index plummeted as much as 3.2% early on May 13 due to Samsung Electronics failing to reach a pay deal with its union, but rebounded sharply 2.6% to close at a record 7,708-7,844. • The recovery was aided by government efforts to manage the labor situation and broader AI optimism reviving market sentiment despite US inflation data and Iran tensions. • This standout performance contrasted with mixed regional moves, highlighting Korea's volatility amid corporate labor issues and tech sector strength.

• The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.48% to 16,240.35 on Monday, April 26, driven by weakness in mega-cap technology stocks including Apple (down 1.2%) and Microsoft (down 0.9%), as investors reassess growth expectations ahead of the Federal Reserve's May meeting. • Treasury yields climbed to 4.35% for the 10-year note amid inflation concerns, pressuring valuations of rate-sensitive tech companies and spurring profit-taking after recent market gains. • The decline reflects growing caution among portfolio managers about earnings sustainability in the second quarter, with earnings guidance from major tech firms expected to dominate trading through early May.

• Every Magnificent 7 stock has fallen into double-digit losses from 52-week highs, with Microsoft down roughly 32% from its October peak, marking its worst start to a year in history, as the group enters correction territory. • Oil prices surged following Operation Epic Fury beginning February 28, reigniting inflation expectations and shifting rate outlook; markets now price in greater likelihood of rate hikes by year-end rather than cuts. • Excitement around AI infrastructure spending has waned amid concerns over combined capital expenditures for Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta expected to exceed $650 billion in 2026, up 60% from 2025.

• The S&P 500 fell 1.51% to close at 6,506.48, the Nasdaq dropped 2.01% to 21,647.61, and the Dow declined 0.96% to 45,577.47 on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive weekly loss. • Iran conflict pushed oil prices higher, intensifying inflation expectations and prompting investors to reassess Federal Reserve rate-cut bets; rate futures now suggest potential rate increases rather than cuts by 2026. • Major tech stocks suffered significant losses, with Nvidia and Tesla falling over 3%, while Super Micro Computer plunged 33% following smuggling charge reports linked to AI technology exports.

• The U.S. dollar fell slightly to 159.70 Japanese yen from 159.88 yen, while the euro rose to $1.1478 from $1.1453 in early Thursday trading. • Currency moves followed Wall Street's slump, with Dow dropping 1.6% to 46,225.15, amid steady Fed rates and oil-driven inflation concerns. • A stronger dollar, combined with higher U.S. yields and oil prices over $111, pressured Asian assets and currencies significantly.