After a late-summer lull, AI-related stocks roared back at week’s end. Weaker U.S. jobs data fueled expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, sparking a rally in high-growth tech names home.saxo. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq each rose roughly 0.8–0.9% on Thursday, with the Nasdaq touching record territory behind renewed enthusiasm for AI-driven companies home.saxo. Investor sentiment toward AI had wavered in August, but fresh catalysts – from blockbuster chip deals to optimistic product news – helped restore confidence in the “AI trade.” European markets echoed the optimism, as the STOXX 600 climbed 0.6% and chip-equipment giant ASML jumped 3.5% on the day home.saxo. In Asia, however, the picture was more mixed: Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Tech index fell ~1.9% Thursday as Chinese AI stocks like Cambricon and Horizon Robotics dipped on profit-taking and regulatory jitters after surging in August home.saxo. Overall, the AI sector’s narrative this week was one of resilience – even as analysts debate how long the hype can outrun hard fundamentals.
