NEW YORK, March 7, 2026, 14:59 EST
Meta Platforms closed out last week at $644.86, slipping 2.4% from the previous close. The dip followed news that Meta will open WhatsApp to competing AI chatbots in Europe for a year, a move meant to stave off interim antitrust measures. The EU’s ongoing review remains unresolved, so investors face another regulatory milepost as markets prepare to reopen Monday, March 9.
Why is this in focus right now? Meta’s AI spending has ballooned. Back in January, Meta projected capital spending between $115 billion and $135 billion for 2026, with total expenses landing at $162 billion to $169 billion. Fourth-quarter ad revenue jumped 24%. Yet John Belton at Gabelli Funds pointed out that the gains remain rooted in the company’s main business.
Meta’s calendar quiets down after CFO Susan Li spoke at Morgan Stanley’s tech conference on March 4, leaving investors eyeing outside catalysts next week. The U.S. consumer price index, or CPI, hits Wednesday, March 11. Then on Friday, March 13, it’s the personal income and outlays data—watch for the PCE price index, the inflation reading the Fed tracks most closely.
This week, the supply chain offered a bit of support for the bullish view. Marvell reported continued robust demand for AI hardware from Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon. President Chris Koopmans called it “still growing massively.” The company highlighted surging orders for ASICs—custom chips tailored for particular tasks—and the fast interconnects linking AI servers. Reuters
Meta’s been busy locking in chip supply. Last month, AMD said it would provide as much as $60 billion worth of AI chips to Meta over five years. Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Matt Britzman pointed out that the arrangement signals Meta’s push to diversify its suppliers instead of relying on just one. According to The Information, Meta also committed to a multibillion-dollar rental agreement for Google’s AI chips last month.
Regulatory issues haven’t gone away. Indonesia plans to limit social media for users under 16 beginning March 28, and Karnataka just made headlines as the first Indian state to block access for that age group. For Meta, whose Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms dominate in these regions, fresh reminders that tougher oversight isn’t fading anytime soon.
Still, the direction for the week isn’t set. U.S. stocks dropped Friday, oil shot up 12%, and labor data came in soft. State Street’s Michael Arone warned that oil crossing $100 a barrel would “spook markets more,” and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack pointed out that pricier energy could muddy the outlook for rate cuts. Reuters
Meta shares head into the week of March 9 still at the mercy of broader market forces. Investors are poised to keep a sharp eye on Middle East developments, oil moves, and Wednesday’s inflation data—these could matter as much as any update out of Meta itself.
