 Markets opened the week with a dramatic shift in risk sentiment as last week’s record-breaking highs in US equities gave way to sharp declines, driven by tech sector rout. Concerns over US dominance in artificial intelligence surfaced after Chinese startup DeepSeek unveiled a competing AI assistant, leading to fears of heightened competition. Nvidia saw its stock plummet over -12%, dragging NASDAQ down more than -3%. It should be emphasized that the long-term implications of this development remain unclear. Yet, some investors are treating it as an opportunity to take profits in the overheated tech sector, and wait for a sizeable correction, if any, to reenter the market. Despite the tech selloff, it’s far too early to suggest that equity markets have peaked. The broader macroeconomic backdrop continues to support risk assets, with expectations for continued monetary easing from major global central banks still intact. In the US, President Donald Trump’s lack of action on tariffs, particularly toward allies, has helped contain inflation risks. These factors should help cushion market sentiment even as tech stocks experience turbulence.... |
