AI Narrative Continues to Divide Post-Close; Intel Confirms Chip Deal

U.S. equities closed Monday's tumultuous session largely unchanged, having clawed back deep pre-market losses. The post-market session continues to highlight a market grappling with stark divergences, particularly within the technology and AI sectors, as investors remain highly selective in rewarding corporate news.

A significant development came late, with Intel (INTC) and Softbank (SFTBY) announcing a memory chips collaboration, providing a fresh positive catalyst for the semiconductor giant and validating earlier rumors. This bright spot for Intel comes amidst analyst commentary suggesting long-term bullishness for Microsoft (MSFT), offering a counter-narrative to earlier scrutiny over its AI investments.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices stabilized after earlier tumbles driven by eased U.S.-Iran tensions. On the downside, insider selling weighed on several names in post-market headlines, with major share disposals reported for Charles Schwab (SCHW) and Ionis Pharma (IONS), adding to individual stock pressures. The day's mixed bag of news points to a cautious yet active market as the trading week progresses.

Market Closes Flat After Wild Session; AI Narrative Divides, Intel Shines

U.S. equities closed Monday's tumultuous session largely unchanged, successfully clawing back deep pre-market losses driven by 'AI bubble' fears and geopolitical anxieties. The day was defined by significant internal rotation and a stark divergence in the highly scrutinized artificial intelligence sector, with investors selectively rewarding strong corporate narratives.

The AI landscape presented a mixed picture. Data analytics firm Palantir (PLTR) extended its post-market surge after reporting robust Q4 earnings and an upbeat outlook, buoyed by accelerating AI demand. Similarly, Alphabet's (GOOGL) autonomous driving unit, Waymo, secured a substantial $16 billion in funding, valuing the venture at $126 billion, affirming confidence in big tech's 'other bets.' Tech giant Apple (AAPL) also delivered record-breaking Q1 earnings, propelled by strong iPhone demand and services growth, further underscoring pockets of strength.

However, the sector faced headwinds elsewhere. Chip leader Nvidia (NVDA) remained under pressure from reports that OpenAI is seeking alternative chip suppliers, intensifying competition concerns. Meanwhile, Tesla (TSLA) plummeted on reports of sharp sales declines in Europe and China, a price target cut, and news of a collapsed multi-billion dollar supplier deal, highlighting challenges in the EV market.

Beyond tech, Intel (INTC) jumped on rumors of a major manufacturing deal and insider buying, providing a fresh positive corporate story. The broader market also found support from a stronger-than-expected ISM Manufacturing PMI and optimism surrounding a new U.S.-India trade deal, helping to counter the day's early gloom. However, underlying macroeconomic concerns persisted, with a Federal Reserve official publicly dissenting against the recent interest-rate pause, advocating for further cuts and signaling ongoing debate within the central bank. The day ultimately reflected a cautious market, quick to punish perceived weakness but ready to reward compelling growth stories.

Market Ends Flat After Volatile Session; AI Narrative Divides Post-Close

U.S. equities closed Monday largely flat, managing to recover from a tumultuous pre-market plunge driven by 'AI bubble' fears and geopolitical anxieties. However, the post-market session continued to highlight a market grappling with stark divergences, especially within the artificial intelligence sector, as investors selectively rewarded strong narratives while remaining cautious.

The AI sector saw both continued strength and underlying scrutiny. Data analytics firm Palantir (PLTR) extended its post-market surge, buoyed by robust Q4 earnings and an upbeat outlook driven by accelerating AI demand. Further validating big tech's 'other bets,' Alphabet's (GOOGL) Waymo unit is reportedly targeting a significant $16 billion funding round at a $110 billion valuation, with Alphabet itself contributing a substantial portion, underlining confidence in its autonomous driving ambitions. Additionally, Google Cloud struck a five-year AI partnership with Liberty Global. Elsewhere, materials science company Corning (GLW) landed a substantial $6 billion AI deal with Meta Platforms (META), underscoring the ongoing demand for infrastructure buildout.

Beyond AI, other corporate actions captured attention. Abbott Laboratories (ABT) saw its CEO make a personal $2 million stock purchase after a post-earnings dip, signaling strong insider confidence following the company's Q4 report. However, the broader macro environment presents lingering uncertainties: a Federal Reserve official publicly dissented against the recent interest-rate pause, advocating for further cuts, while reports indicated foreign investors are scaling back U.S. exposure amid fiscal concerns and trade policy uncertainty continues to disrupt global production networks. The day ultimately reflected a cautious market, selectively rewarding strong corporate stories while remaining sensitive to broader macroeconomic headwinds.

Post-Market Buzz: Palantir Soars, Apple Shines, AI Narrative Diverges

U.S. equities closed Monday largely flat, recovering from a tumultuous pre-market plunge, but the post-market session brought significant individual stock movement and further clarity on the prevailing AI narrative. While the broader indices ended unchanged, the day underscored a market grappling with stark divergence.

Data analytics giant Palantir (PLTR) stole the post-market spotlight, surging significantly after reporting robust Q4 earnings and offering an upbeat outlook, driven by accelerating demand for its AI tools. This provides a strong positive counterpoint to earlier 'AI bubble' fears. Likewise, Apple (AAPL) delivered record-breaking Q1 results, fueled by surging iPhone and Services revenue, with management highlighting its AI strategy including a collaboration with Google's Gemini.

However, the AI picture remains nuanced. Chip leader Nvidia (NVDA) remained under pressure as reports indicated OpenAI is actively seeking alternative chip suppliers, intensifying competition concerns. Similarly, Microsoft (MSFT) faced scrutiny over its massive AI infrastructure spending and reliance on OpenAI, with its stock experiencing a notable one-day dip. Further validating big tech's 'other bets,' Alphabet's (GOOGL) Waymo unit secured new funding at an increased $126 billion valuation.

Beyond tech, Elon Musk confirmed a massive merger between his rocket company SpaceX and AI startup xAI (X), reportedly at a $1.25 trillion valuation, signaling further consolidation in the private AI space. Elsewhere, specialty retailer MarineMax (HZO) soared on news of an exclusive $1 billion buyout offer, while New Jersey Resources (NJR) rose after raising its guidance. Conversely, trading platform Robinhood (HOOD) slid, weighed down by crypto weakness and broader risk-off sentiment impacting retail-focused assets, capping a day of significant internal churn across the market.