Samsung, SK Hynix and Bitcoin pause as Alphabet weighs on Nasdaq futures
Tech-linked assets stayed cautious after Alphabet raised capital spending guidance and Tesla missed earnings, while higher oil prices, rising bond yields and Middle East tensions added pressure before the Federal Reserve meeting.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix traded narrowly while Bitcoin held near $65,900 as investors assessed early results from Alphabet and Tesla for evidence that heavy AI infrastructure spending is generating returns and sustaining semiconductor demand. US equity-index futures slipped, with S&P 500 contracts down 0.2% and Nasdaq 100 futures off 0.4%, after Alphabet fell almost 5% in late trading despite a cloud revenue beat and higher full-year capital expenditure guidance; Tesla missed earnings expectations. Broader caution was reinforced by higher oil prices, rising Treasury yields and renewed US-Iran tensions ahead of next week's Federal Reserve meeting.
- Capital expenditure: Company spending on long-term assets such as servers, data-center equipment and other infrastructure.
- AI hyperscalers: Large cloud and technology companies that spend heavily on AI data centers and computing infrastructure, shaping demand for semiconductors and related hardware.
- Bond yields: Returns investors demand from bonds, which can rise when inflation or interest-rate expectations increase.