U.S. Democrats' midterm sweep fuels $750 billion Big Tech rally
Apple, which has avoided Big Tech’s massive AI spending but is feeling the sting of an AI-fueled surge in memory chip prices, jumped nearly 7% to a record high
The recent U.S. midterm elections resulted in a significant victory for Democrats, which has subsequently boosted shares in major U.S. tech companies. Investors are optimistic about potential restrictions on new data center construction, anticipating it will secure their position in the limited supply of computing power and alleviate pressure on their cash flow problems.
Amazon shares jumped 7.4% to a three-month high, while Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Microsoft gained between 2% and 6.3%. Apple, which has refrained from big AI spending, surged nearly 7% to a record high. However, Nvidia's investments in AI have raised concerns among some Wall Street analysts about whether it might be inflating an AI bubble.
The rally in tech stocks adds up to more than $750 billion in combined market value, marking a sharp turnaround for cloud giants, who have seen their earnings indicate that the AI infrastructure race has turned cash-rich, debt-light companies into heavy spenders, reliant on borrowing. Microsoft emerged as an outlier with $18.6 billion in cash flow.
The surge in tech shares follows the Democrats' landslide midterm victories, with Democrats opposing data centers, particularly in Texas. The potential slowdown in data center construction might have a positive effect on the hyperscalers, as they already possess data centers, making their assets more valuable.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
