AI Rebound Helps Stocks Regain Footing After Sharp Selloff

Wall Street recovered from Friday’s steep decline as dip buyers returned to the AI trade, led by a sharp rebound in semiconductor shares. The S&P 500 rose modestly and the Nasdaq outperformed, though market breadth was softer beneath the surface as most S&P 500 constituents declined. Sentiment was helped by easing oil-price pressure after Iran and Israel halted strikes, while Treasury yields edged higher as investors looked ahead to Wednesday’s inflation report.

Key Headlines & Market Movers:

• Chip Stocks Revive AI Momentum: Semiconductor stocks rebounded sharply after their worst selloff since 2020, with Nvidia, Micron, Intel, and Marvell among the key gainers. Intel surged on reports that Google may rely on the company for millions of specialized AI chips in 2028, while Marvell rallied after being added to the S&P 500. The move reinforced investor confidence that the AI infrastructure buildout remains a durable market theme despite last week’s volatility.

Strategists Frame Selloff as a Healthy Reset: Morgan Stanley and Citi strategists leaned constructive, arguing that last week’s positioning-driven decline looked more like a pause than the start of a broader downturn. Morgan Stanley’s Mike Wilson maintained an upbeat year-end S&P 500 target, while Citi raised its target after stronger earnings expectations. UBS also argued that markets may be overstating central-bank hawkishness, with solid fundamentals still supporting risk assets.

Oil Eases as Geopolitical Tensions Cool: Crude prices initially jumped after Iran and Israel exchanged military strikes, but gains faded after both sides signaled a halt to attacks. That helped reduce one immediate risk for equities, even as WTI remained above $90 a barrel. The easing in energy pressure came at an important moment, with investors already focused on whether inflation data will complicate the outlook for Federal Reserve policy.

S&P 500 Sector Performance

Looking Ahead

The next major test is Wednesday’s May CPI report, with headline inflation expected to accelerate while core monthly inflation may cool slightly. A softer core reading could reassure investors that the Fed does not need to turn more hawkish despite strong job growth, while a hotter print would likely pressure rate-sensitive and high-valuation growth stocks. Markets will also watch whether demand for major IPOs, equity offerings, and corporate bond deals confirms that risk appetite remains intact after last week’s reset.

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