NASDAQ:MSFT 31 December 2025 - 3 January 2026

U.S. equity markets showed mixed performance in recent sessions, with blue-chip stocks generally outperforming growth and tech shares. On June 22, the S&P 500 fell 0.48% and the Nasdaq dropped 1.41%, weighed down by declines in Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft, while the Dow gained 0.12%. Alphabet lost about 5.5%-6%, dragging the tech sector lower, but gains in Caterpillar and Visa helped the Dow. After-hours trading on June 22 saw little change in major index ETFs, with the Invesco QQQ Trust and SPDR S&P 500 ETF slipping slightly, while the Dow ETF edged up. Microsoft’s recent activity included a 20-year natural gas power deal with Chevron for a Texas data center, reflecting the growing importance of energy supply for AI infrastructure. Microsoft’s shares slipped despite Azure’s 40% growth. Caterpillar gained a direct role in Microsoft’s West Texas AI data-center project, benefiting from co-located power demand. SpaceX is set to join the Russell 1000 index with a strong growth allocation, and its stock has seen volatility, including a 5% drop after the Fed signaled a possible rate hike in 2026. Congressional filings revealed significant holdings in major tech companies by a lawmaker’s spouse. Microsoft shares have underperformed the broader market recently, and insider filings showed nearly $10 million in sales. Investors are closely watching upcoming catalysts such as Micron’s earnings, U.S. inflation data, and Federal Reserve decisions, which are expected to test the AI spending narrative and broader market sentiment.