Tech set to still sway US stock market's course despite AI-driven swoon

Even as AI-related stocks have experienced a significant decline, technology shares continue to drive the US stock market. The S&P 500 technology sector experienced its largest one-day drop in over six years, with investors wary of potential obstacles such as slower data-center spending due to Democratic victories in the midterm elections.

Despite this, technology remains the largest sector in the S&P 500, holding over 35% of its weight as of Thursday's close. Robert Pavlik, a senior portfolio manager, noted that weakness in AI will likely drag down the entire tech sector, which in turn affects the broader S&P 500. The tech sector's influence extends beyond simple AI sensitivity, as major data center spenders like Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta Platforms are classified in other sectors.

Despite the recent slump, the tech sector has still delivered more than 200% growth over the past six years, nearly doubling the S&P 500's gain. While some AI stocks continue to post strong year-to-date gains, the overall market sentiment remains cautious, with investors awaiting key earnings reports from companies like CoreWeave, Nvidia, and Dell Technologies, as well as the impact of the US-Israeli conflict and future Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.