Stock Market Slump Driven by AI Bubble Fears and Labor Market Concerns
Equity markets faced significant pressure Thursday as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 plunged amid growing skepticism about AI-related valuations. Semiconductor stocks led the decline, with Advanced Micro Devices, Qualcomm, and KLA Corp dragging the sector lower. The selloff reflects mounting concerns that the AI investment boom may mirror previous technology bubbles.
Political dysfunction compounded market woes as the U.S. government shutdown entered its record 37th day. Investor anxiety intensified following a Challenger, Gray & Christmas report showing October job cuts reached their highest level since 2003. The warehousing sector bore the brunt of layoffs, with Amazon and UPS announcing significant workforce reductions.