Global Stock Markets Today: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Slide on AI Funding Jitters as UK Shares Outperform (Updated 4:40 PM EST)

Global stock markets ended a busy Wednesday with a clear split across regions: Wall Street sold off—led by tech—while the UK rallied on a fresh inflation surprise, and much of Asia finished firmer as China’s benchmarks advanced. Beneath the surface, investors are balancing three powerful forces heading into year-end: renewed questions about the cost—and financing—of the AI buildout, a sharp focus on delayed U.S. inflation data due Thursday, and a geopolitical jolt in energy markets after the U.S. announced a “blockade” targeting sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela. Reuters+3Reuters+3Reuters+3