NYSE:ZS 21 December 2025

Software and Platform Stocks Week Ahead: AI Spending Scrutiny, Cloud Security Mega-Deals, and Holiday-Shortened Trading (Dec. 22–26, 2025)

Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks announced an expanded partnership with a contract approaching $10 billion, according to Reuters sources. Software and platform stocks faced volatile trading ahead of Christmas week, as investors weighed thin markets and questions about AI infrastructure payback. Wall Street also tracked shifting expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026.

21 December 2025

Holiday Trading·NASDAQ:AMD·NASDAQ:AMZN·NASDAQ:GOOG·NASDAQ:MSFT·NASDAQ:NVDA·NYSE:CRM·NYSE:PANW·NYSE:ZS

Sensex surges 891 points on easing oil prices and IT stock rally
March 20, 2026, 12:57 AM EDT. The S&P BSE Sensex jumped 891.55 points to 75,098.79 on Friday morning, led by a sharp recovery after Thursday's steep 3.26% fall, the worst in two years. Key drivers include a drop in crude oil prices-Brent crude fell 1.63% to $106.87 amid easing Middle East tensions-as well as positive global cues following assurances from U.S. and Israeli leaders about reduced attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure. Broad-based buying pushed the NSE Nifty50 up 277.90 points to 23,280.05. IT stocks led the gains, with the Nifty IT index rising 1.77%, supported by Tech Mahindra and OFSS among others. Analysts say markets are oscillating between hope and fear, but investor sentiment improved on hope of de-escalation and opportunities to buy after the recent sell-off.