4 February 2026 — Today’s Market News — AI Shock Hits Tech as Nasdaq Slides 1.4% and Silver Surges around 5%
Investors Stay Cautious as Software Stocks Slide and Safe Havens Bounce
Markets turned cautious as AI-related selling hit software and data-analytics stocks, pushing the Nasdaq down about 1.4%, while the Nikkei 225 underperformed. Gold climbed back above $5,000/oz, and WTI crude oil traded around $63.84/bbl amid broader geopolitical and supply concerns.
Today’s Snapshot
S&P 500: 6,917.81 (-58.63 pts, −0.84%- last close)
Nasdaq Composite:23,255.19 (-336.92 pts, −1.43%- last close)
- Nikkei 225:54,293.36 (−427.30 pts, −0.78% – last close)
Gold: $5,059.39/oz (+3.08%)
- Silver:$87.31/oz (+5.14%)
Global Markets
Precious Metals
Gold: $5,059.39/oz (+3.08%)
Gold rose 3.08% as investors bought it again after U.S.–Iran tensions in the Middle East raised uncertainty. When geopolitical risks increase, investors often move money into gold because it is seen as a safer asset.
Silver: $87.84/oz (+3.2%)
Silver rose 3.2% after falling earlier this week. Investors bought silver again because prices had dropped to lower levels, and the rise in gold also helped push silver higher.
Energy
WTI crude: $63.84/bbl (+1.0%)
WTI crude rose 1.0% because the oil supply was less. Middle East tensions raised worries about the supply, and U.S. crude inventories, which are the amount of oil stored in the USA, fell sharply, meaning less oil is available, which results in higher prices.
FX
(A)Dollar Index (DXY): 97.33 (steady)
The dollar held near a one-week high at 97.33 after Congress approved funding to reopen government operations, and news about who could become the next Federal Reserve chair reduced uncertainty about future U.S. interest rate decisions.
USD/JPY: 156.26 (weaker)
The yen weakened to 156.26 per dollar as investors grew cautious ahead of Japan’s weekend election, fearing the next government may support policies that keep interest rates low, making the yen less attractive to investors.
Stock Market — What Happened Today
U.S. Equities
- S&P 500: 6,917.81 (-58.63 pts, −0.84%- last close)
- Nasdaq Composite: 23,255.19 (-336.92 pts, −1.43%- last close)
Technology stocks led U.S. market losses, with Salesforce (−8%), Datadog (−6%), Adobe (−5%), and Microsoft and Nvidia (−3% each) falling after new AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google’s Gemini began replacing tasks done by paid software, raising concerns that customers may cut spending on services from firms like Salesforce, Datadog, and Adobe, making it harder for them to maintain high subscription prices and grow future sales.
Asia
Nikkei 225: 54,365.83 (−0.65%)
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.65%, led by losses in advertising and data-related stocks, with Dentsu (−6%) and Nomura Research nearly (−8%), reason being as the same global AI-related concerns that hit U.S. software stocks.
Japan
Nikkei 225: 52,897.04 (−1.76%)
Japanese stocks fell 1.76% as a stronger yen cut profits for export companies like car and electronics makers, while weak global markets made investors sell more shares.
Volatility & Positioning
The VIX closed around 18.0, showing that market risk picked up as stocks sold off.
What Traders Are Watching
- Whether software and data-analytics stocks keep sliding, or if the market stabilizes after the first wave of AI disruption fear.
- Whether gold can hold above $5,000/oz after the sharp rebound.
- Whether USD/JPY stays near the mid-156 area, with Japan’s election adding uncertainty to the yen.
Last Available Market News — 23 January 2026
Global markets rose as U.S. trade concerns eased. Europe’s STOXX 50 gained about 1.3%, while gold held near $4,960/oz and silver jumped around 4%. The U.S. dollar slipped slightly as investor sentiment improved.
Catch up on: Silver Soars ~4%, Gold Nears $5,000/oz & STOXX 50 Climbs 1.3%
Sources
1. Reuters — Wall Street drops as AI disruption fears hit software; S&P 500 −0.84%, Nasdaq −1.43%
2. Reuters — Asia markets: oil climbs on U.S.–Iran tension; gold and silver rebound after rout
3. Reuters — Gold extends rally above $5,000; silver rebounds as safe-haven demand returns
4. Reuters — Oil extends gains; Brent ~$67.89, WTI ~$63.84 on renewed U.S.–Iran worries
5. Reuters — FX: Dollar steady; USD/JPY ~156.26 ahead of Japan election
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