Wall Street: KI-Zweifel lassen Anleger nicht los – Ölpreis steigt auf Fünfmonatshoch

Wall Street remains under pressure from investors concerned about the development of the technology sector. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.3 percent to 52,106 points, while the S&P 500 remained unchanged at 7,685 points. The Nasdaq fell 0.8 percent to 26,242 points. The Nasdaq 100, which includes the 100 largest non-financial companies by market capitalization, dropped 0.6 percent to 29,342.

Andreas Lipkow, chief analyst at CMC Markets, noted that concerns about high valuations and financing of the AI boom continue to weigh on equity markets. Technology stocks, particularly those involved in semiconductor manufacturing and data centers, faced selling pressure on Tuesday, with Elice, a data center provider in Seoul, experiencing a 32 percent drop after its initial public offering.

Investors are awaiting results from major AI investors like Meta to assess the further development of the billion-dollar investments. The financing concerns for AI infrastructure also manifested in the bond market, with SoftBank Group's credit risk reaching its highest level in nearly four years. Experts believe the market needs evidence that the massive investments in data centers and infrastructure will yield returns, especially for highly leveraged cloud infrastructure providers.

The balance sheet season for companies is drawing attention from investors, who believe that promising growth prospects and sustainable profits could strengthen confidence. US technology giants such as SpaceX, Meta, and Tesla are central to the focus on balance sheets. SpaceX and Tesla are set to release their quarterly earnings within two days, with SpaceX on Tuesday and Tesla on Wednesday, both after the US stock market close.

Maximilian Wienke, a market analyst at Etoro, pointed out that the potential merger between SpaceX and Tesla is generating headlines on Wall Street. SpaceX could supply Starlink and AI infrastructure, while Tesla would contribute physical platforms through cars, robots, and autonomous vehicles, creating a comprehensive AI value chain.

Higher energy prices are fueling concerns about interest rate hikes. Brent oil prices rose to their highest level in five months, breaking the 111-dollar-per-barrel mark, as traders weigh the risk of further Iranian attacks on the Strait of Hormuz. The sharp increase in Brent oil prices to near 110 US dollars per barrel highlights how much geopolitical risks are influencing price formation again.

Market reactions are becoming increasingly divided, with US technology stocks showing resilience while European assets suffer additional fiscal and political concerns. Oil prices had already risen on Monday. Higher energy prices spark the expectation that the US Federal Reserve may keep interest rates high for longer to curb inflation.