Nasdaq faces $2 trillion wipeout in October as AI spending fears deepen

In October, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 is projected to lose more than $2 trillion in market value, according to a Reuters report. This substantial decline is attributed to heightened investor scrutiny over whether the billions invested in artificial intelligence (AI) can generate quick returns. The index has already fallen over 5.8% in October amid turbulence surrounding the AI sector.

Key players such as Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Amazon.com have been increasing their spending forecasts as they strive to expand AI infrastructure. The growing commitment to AI has unnerved investors, particularly with the rising cost of borrowing making debt-funded investments more expensive and justifiable. Notably, Alphabet experienced its largest single-day percentage drop on record, blaming disappointing core business results and increased cash burn.

Meta's plans for a $97.5 billion fund raise have also raised concerns about shareholder dilution and possible increased reliance on capital markets. In contrast, Microsoft and SpaceX demonstrated positive results, indicating that AI spending may be starting to pay off. The demand for data is insatiable and growing, and J.P. Morgan predicts global AI capex will reach $5.5 trillion by 2030, with $900 billion spent in 2026 alone.

Despite strong revenue across the Magnificent Seven, concerns are emerging about AI companies' growing reliance on debt funding, which could pose risks to investors as macroeconomic pressures intensify.