Investors faced challenges on Thursday as concerns about the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence impacted market performance across various sectors.
Bitcoin, representing the largest market cap in digital assets, dropped by 2.5%, trading under $66,000 and contributing to downward trends in the broader cryptocurrency market. Ethereum followed suit, hovering around $1,900, influenced by losses in equity markets.
The S&P 500 index saw a decline of 1.1%, while the Nasdaq composite fell over 1.4%. Key technology stocks did not fare well; Apple experienced a significant loss of 5%, Tesla slipped by 3%, and both Meta and Amazon fell approximately 2.5%. Nvidia also saw a minor decrease of 0.5%, while Alphabet and Microsoft remained relatively unchanged.
In the commodities market, prices took a hit as well. Gold experienced a sharp decline of 3%, settling at about $4,930, and silver tumbled nearly 10%, reaching $76.
Software stocks continued to struggle as fears emerged regarding new artificial intelligence tools potentially threatening core business functions and profit margins. Salesforce saw a decline of 2% and has now retreated over 31% since the beginning of the year. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF fell by 3%, remaining approximately 32% below its recent highs.
As the market looks ahead, investors will focus on the upcoming inflation data scheduled for release. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones predict a 0.3% monthly increase in consumer prices for both headline and core measures in January.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar index rose slightly to 96.93, indicating a shift in investor sentiment toward defensive strategies.