Finance

The semiconductor sector experienced a massive rout as enthusiasm for AI-linked growth stocks cooled under the weight of high valuations and macroeconomic uncertainty. Leading firms including Micron, Intel, and AMD saw their share prices fall by 10% or more, contributing to a nearly $1 trillion loss in market value. This downturn followed earnings reports from industry giants like Broadcom that failed to elevate future AI chip targets, prompting broad profit-taking across the sector.

Energy stocks and commodities faced downward pressure at the end of the week, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index falling approximately 1.5%. West Texas Intermediate crude oil dropped nearly 3% to around $90 per barrel as traders weighed Middle East geopolitical developments against a strengthening U.S. dollar. Despite this daily dip, some analysts remain bullish on the sector's long-term prospects due to supply constraints and structural demand from AI data centers.

Gold prices plunged to their lowest levels of 2026, dropping below $4,370 per ounce following the resilient jobs report and rising Treasury yields. The sell-off represented a 3.1% daily decline for gold and a similar downturn for silver as investors pivoted away from safe-haven assets in favor of the dollar. This technical reset has brought gold close to its 200-day moving average, clearing out speculative excess that had built up during the early 2026 rally.