This was a challenging week for stocks, particularly for AI-related investments.
Markets posted gains on a few days after inflation came in well below expectations. However, renewed strikes involving Iran, rising oil prices, and reports of increasingly capable Chinese AI models ultimately pushed stocks lower.
Uncertainty in the Middle East increased throughout the week, with Brent crude oil approaching $90 per barrel. That rise in energy prices offset much of the relief investors initially felt from the encouraging inflation report.
AI stocks also came under pressure following the release of a new Chinese model known as Kimi K3. Chinese developers have been forced to build more efficient models due to trade restrictions on high-end Nvidia chips. The new is reportedly delivering performance that rivals leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic.
The concern for investors is that more efficient models may require less computing power, potentially reducing future demand for some AI infrastructure and semiconductor companies.
The major indexes all finished the week lower. The Dow declined less than 1%, ending at 52,146. The technology-heavy Nasdaq fell nearly 3% to 25,520, while the S&P 500 lost 1.57%, closing at 7,458.
Although the recent market weakness may feel more widespread, it has been concentrated primarily in the technology sector. More defensive areas of the market generally held up better. For perspective, the S&P 500 remains only about 2% below its record high.
Bonds had a better week. The five-year Treasury yield declined three basis points to 4.28%, while the 10-year yield fell two basis points to 4.55%.
Housing supply data was generally in line with expectations, while consumer sentiment came in stronger than anticipated.
The week ahead will be relatively light on economic data, but we will continue to monitor the markets and keep you informed.
Enjoy your weekend.