|

Nasdaq dives on Chinese AI threat – Earnings in focus [Video]

Last week wrapped up with a striking contrast: bullish momentum through most of the week gave way to a bearish close on Friday. A set of stronger-than-expected PMI data prompted investors to recalibrate their Federal Reserve (Fed) outlook, weighing stronger economic growth and the likelihood of a more hawkish Fed response.

A such, the Stoxx 600 retreated after hitting a fresh record. The S&P500 and Nasdaq traded lower as well, and futures, especially Nasdaq futures, are looking pretty bad this morning with a more than 2% slide at the time of writing hammered by the news that the Chinese startup DeepSeek could run its latest AI model on less advanced chips... and could disrupt the US tech’s global dominance.

But keep calm and breath. It’s probably too early to bet that DeepSeek will challenge the global AI leaders. This week’s Big Tech earnings will certainly give a stronger conviction to those looking for a fresh direction.

This week, four of the Magnificent 7 stocks – Microsoft, Meta, Tesla and Apple – and ASML are due to announce their Q4 earnings, along with Intel, Visa and Mastercard, and the oil giants.

It will be a big week for central bank decisions, too. The Fed is expected to keep rates unchanged, while the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Canada (BoC) are expected to cut theirs by 25bp. 

Author

Ipek Ozkardeskaya

Ipek Ozkardeskaya

Swissquote Bank Ltd

Ipek Ozkardeskaya began her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked in HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

More from Ipek Ozkardeskaya
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD off three-month highs, holds near 1.1800 on softer US Dollar

EUR/USD consolidates gains below 1.1800 in the European trading hours on Wednesday. A broadly subdued US Dollar continues to underpin the pair amid quiet markets and thin liquidity conditions on Christmas Eve. 

GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets

GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 in the European session on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders turn to sidelines heading into the holiday season. 

Gold retreats from record highs amid profit-taking on Christmas Eve

Gold retreats following the move higher to the $4,525 area, or a fresh all-time peak, though the downside remains limited amid a bullish fundamental backdrop. The US Dollar selling bias remains unabated on the back of dovish Fed expectations, which continues to act as a tailwind for the bullion amid persistent geopolitical risks.

Shiba Inu's bears tighten grip, aiming for yearly lows

Shiba Inu price remains under pressure, trading below $0.000070 on Wednesday as bearish momentum continues to dominate the broader crypto market. On-chain and derivatives data further support the bearish sentiment, while technical analysis suggests a deeper correction targeting the yearly lows.

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Stellar Price Forecast: XLM slips below $0.22 as bearish momentum builds

Stellar (XLM) price is trading below $0.22 at the time of writing on Wednesday after failing to close above the key resistance earlier this week. Bearish momentum continues to strengthen, with open interest falling and short bets rising.