Amazon burns cash, Intel flags weak PC demand as AI boom’s costs ripple across markets

Amazon reported weaker-than-expected holiday-quarter sales, signaling growing pressure on consumers amid rising inflation. The AI boom's financial strain has extended beyond tech giants, affecting everyday consumers. Intel warned of weak PC demand, driven by a memory chip shortage that has raised costs. Alphabet and Meta both burned cash in the September quarter, while Microsoft joined the borrowing trend with a $25 billion debt sale.

The tech industry's heavy spending on infrastructure is causing concerns among investors. Stock prices suffered as a result, with Amazon plummeting 7% after-hours, and AI cloud stocks CoreWeave, Nebius, and Iren declining 5.8% to 6.7%. Alphabet's shares fell an additional 1.5% after-hours, while Intel's stock dropped 18% due to a factory explosion in Israel that will cost the company roughly $600 million in lost revenue over two quarters.

Semiconductor weakness, primarily attributed to Intel's earnings, contributed to a broader decline in the index. Analysts noted that while Intel's PC sector issues may not have dire consequences for other AI-focused chipmakers, the AI spending spree has put a strain on the entire tech sector and its investors.