NEW YORK, January 7, 2026, 16:02 EST — After-hours
- Microsoft shares rose about 1% in late trade, after touching $489.68 intraday
- MISO said it will deploy Microsoft technology to help modernize Midwest grid operations
- Investors are watching Friday’s U.S. jobs report and the timing of Microsoft’s next earnings date
Microsoft Corp shares rose 1.0% to $483.51 in late trading on Wednesday, after touching a session high of $489.68, as money flowed back into AI-linked megacaps. The S&P 500 ended up 0.03% at 6,946.92 and the Nasdaq climbed 0.48%, with Nvidia and Alphabet among the leaders.
The move matters because Microsoft stock has become a proxy for the “AI trade” — bets on companies expected to profit from the surge in spending on chips, cloud computing and software. Traders have been quick to fade and chase that theme, especially when rates data shifts expectations for Federal Reserve policy.
One new thread is power. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator said on Tuesday it will work with Microsoft to modernize grid operations across its footprint, including tools to predict weather-related disruptions and speed up transmission planning. “Such acceleration is critical because of the increasing diversity of energy mix, electrification, rising demand and the growth of data centers,” said Nirav Shah, MISO’s vice president and chief information and digital officer. Reuters
Economic data on Wednesday kept rates in the frame. The Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed job openings fell by 303,000 to 7.146 million in November, with hiring also down.
ADP, a payroll processor, said private employers added 41,000 jobs in December, undershooting economists’ forecast for a 47,000 increase, after a revised 29,000 job loss in November. The government’s December payrolls report is due on Friday, and it can move bond yields fast — and with them, big tech.
Microsoft also used its partner blog on Tuesday to flag changes to its AI Cloud Partner Program, including an expansion of benefits packages in February that it said will include more Copilot licenses and added security benefits for partners. The post also said new requirements took effect on Jan. 1 for partners seeking to keep access to some Azure IP co-sell benefits.
The next hard company catalyst is earnings, but Microsoft has not announced when it will report fiscal second-quarter results. Its investor FAQ says the next earnings release “will be announced soon,” and lists Q2 as to be announced.
Still, the trade can turn quickly. A Reuters markets outlook this week said AI excitement has boosted valuations and fed expectations for massive infrastructure spending, while doubts about returns are starting to creep in — a setup that can punish any stumble in growth or margins.
Technically, the stock pushed toward the $490 area before easing back, leaving that zone as the next hurdle, with $480 near the day’s opening level as a line traders will watch into Thursday. Friday’s U.S. payrolls report on Jan. 9 is next.
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