AI selloff drags global stocks lower

U.S. stocks fell on June 26, 2026, as a renewed selloff in artificial intelligence and technology shares weighed on the major indexes. The S&P 500 (SPX) declined 0.6% and was heading toward its second weekly loss in the last 13 weeks, while the Nasdaq Composite, which is heavily tilted toward technology, was down about 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) slipped about 0.4%, or roughly 223 points, in early trading.

The pullback marked a notable pause in a strong multiweek run for U.S. equities and concentrated the damage in sectors most closely tied to AI infrastructure and high-end hardware. Market moves reflected growing investor caution around the durability of the AI-driven rally that has powered much of the broader market’s gains this year.

The weakness in U.S. trading followed a sharp selloff in Asia that was led by AI-linked companies. Japan’s stock indexes tumbled roughly 4.2%, and South Korea’s main benchmark dropped about 5.8%. Both markets saw particular pressure in technology and chip-related names, setting a negative tone for global risk assets as trading rolled into Europe and the United States.

The declines in Asian technology shares underscored how closely global markets are tracking shifts in sentiment around AI spending, hardware demand and capital-raising plans for prominent private companies in the sector.

SoftBank Group Corp. was among the hardest-hit stocks, plunging roughly 12–13% on the day. The selloff came after reports that OpenAI is considering delaying its initial public offering until 2027. Because SoftBank has a significant exposure to AI investments, the prospect of a later-than-expected listing for OpenAI raised concerns about the timing of potential returns.

The news intensified selling pressure in AI- and chip-related stocks more broadly and weighed on regional markets. Investors reacted to the possibility that one of the highest-profile AI companies may take longer to access public markets, adding a new source of uncertainty to the sector.

Apple (AAPL) added to the tech-sector drag after announcing price increases on some MacBook and iPad models. Its shares fell about 6% following the move, contributing to the broader decline in major technology indexes. The price changes highlighted ongoing questions about rising costs for components used in advanced devices.

Chip and memory stocks also experienced heightened volatility. Micron Technology (MU) surged roughly 15–16% after reporting record revenue and strong adjusted earnings per share. The strong post-earnings reaction underscored both robust demand for certain AI-related hardware and the rapid swings investors are navigating within the semiconductor space as they reassess growth prospects and capital expenditure needs.