tech stocks

Wall Street surged Tuesday, buoyed by optimistic Iran conflict talks and robust tech stock performance. Easing bond yields further supported the rally, pushing major indices near record highs. United Airlines and Carnival saw gains as oil prices stabilized. Micron Technology was a standout performer, driven by AI optimism.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu warns the AI boom is a massive investment bubble, potentially the largest yet. A viral post claims AI growth relies on 'round trip revenue loops,' where tech giants fund AI startups with cloud credits, which startups then spend on those same giants' servers. This creates inflated revenue and paper profits, mirroring the dot-com crash.

Anthropic and OpenAI have fired another salvo, launching their own services companies. While some believe this will force software firms to become more differentiated, others price these stocks at zero earnings growth

Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty closed lower on Tuesday after a late sell-off in heavyweight stocks like HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries erased early gains. Concerns over the rupee hitting a fresh record low and elevated crude oil prices also weighed on investor sentiment, though IT stocks provided some support.

Berkshire Hathaway, under new CEO Greg Abel, has significantly altered its investment strategy. Abel has more than tripled the stake in Alphabet (Google's parent company) and completely sold off Amazon shares, a departure from Warren Buffett's long-held tech aversion. Additionally, Berkshire made a substantial investment in Delta Airlines, another sector Buffett previously expressed skepticism about.

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Taiwan’s overall market capitalisation rose to $4.95 trillion as of Monday, while India’s market value declined to $4.92 trillion.

Donald Trump lauded AI's economic benefits, citing record job numbers and stock market gains. However, a New York Post report revealed over 52,000 tech layoffs in early 2026, with AI increasingly cited as the cause.

In fact, ⁠IT has been the worst-performing major sector in the Indian market over the past 12-18 months. In May, 2026, the Nifty IT index touched a near 3-year low, losing more than a fourth of its value since the start of the year.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has clarified that Pershing Square's sale of Alphabet (Google) shares was not a bearish call on the company. Ackman said his hedge fund offloaded its long-held Google stake to fund a fresh $2.1 billion Microsoft position, betting on the software giant's AI prospects, Azure cloud growth, and Copilot adoption after a steep stock decline this year.

Micron Technology briefly surpassed a $1 trillion market value, driven by surging investor demand for memory chips essential for AI data centers. This significant rally, with shares rising over 17%, highlights Micron's central role in the AI hardware supply chain and the growing need for advanced memory solutions.

Indian stock markets experienced a significant downturn on Friday. Investor wealth saw a substantial decline of Rs 5.77 lakh crore. Benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty50, plunged sharply in the final trading hour. Concerns over a weaker monsoon outlook and geopolitical uncertainty fueled the sell-off. Broad-based selling pressure was observed across various sectors.

Renowned investor Michael Burry, famous for predicting the 2008 housing crash, warns the current AI boom mirrors the dot-com bubble. He highlights excessive venture capital and debt funding, noting many AI startups are unprofitable. Burry questions AI's long-term enterprise value and consumer willingness to pay, suggesting a market crash is imminent.

Meta is launching paid subscription plans for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, offering premium features like advanced analytics and customization options. This move diversifies Meta's revenue beyond advertising, potentially easing investor concerns about its significant AI infrastructure spending. The company aims to consolidate these paid offerings under a future "Meta One" brand.

Stock market recommendations: Motilal Oswal Wealth Management Research Desk recommends picking up Syrma SGS, and Max Financials as the top stocks for the trading week starting May 18, 2026:

Sanjay Mehrotra is CEO of Micron Technology, the memory-chip giant that just crossed a market cap of $1 trillion to break into the top 10 US companies by valuation

SpaceX is preparing for a historic IPO, aiming for a $1.75-$2 trillion valuation and seeking to raise $75 billion by June 2026. Despite significant revenue growth from Starlink, the company reported substantial losses in 2025 and Q1 2026, largely due to heavy investments in its new AI unit following the xAI acquisition.

Samsung Electronics has averted an 18-day semiconductor strike by reaching a tentative deal with unions, promising employees average bonuses of around $338,000. This profit-linked system, tied to long-term targets, comes as AI demand boosts chip profits. However, a shareholder group plans legal action, deeming the agreement requires their consent.

Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal commented on Oracle's recent layoffs and rescinded job offers, attributing them to automation rather than financial issues. He advised professionals to assess their position on an employer's P&L statement, suggesting those in the 'cost column' are at risk, while those contributing to revenue or profit can leverage AI.

Govt Hosps Not Keep Meds Less Than 3 Months Expiry

Elon Musk is on the cusp of becoming the world's first trillionaire as SpaceX prepares for a monumental IPO, potentially the largest in Wall Street history. The company's $1.25 trillion valuation could significantly boost Musk's net worth, fueled by his majority stake and ambitious plans for AI, Starlink, and Mars colonization.

Russia's latest missile and drone assault on Kyiv, featuring the hypersonic Oreshnik, signals a dangerous escalation. Moscow aims to break Ukraine's resilience and psychologically pressure the West. The attacks target Kyiv as the political heart, overload air defenses, and serve as geopolitical signaling, demonstrating Russia's strategic strike capabilities and readiness for a prolonged conflict.

Michael Burry, famed for predicting the 2008 crash, warns the stock market's AI obsession mirrors the dot-com bubble. He believes markets are ignoring economic data, driven solely by momentum. Burry cautions that massive AI investments by tech giants may yield no lasting returns, potentially leading to significant market corrections and tech job stagnation.

Celebrating a significant milestone, Navya Naveli Nanda, the granddaughter of iconic actor Amitabh Bachchan, has just concluded her MBA journey at IIM Ahmedabad. Sharing poignant farewell messages, she highlighted the lessons learned and friendships forged during her two years in business school.