Global stocks tumble on chip selloff and AI concerns

Global stocks fell sharply as a semiconductor selloff dragged down Wall Street indexes. Qualcomm earnings missed estimates and political shifts sparked AI spending worries.

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People stand in front of an electronic board showing the stock market index at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 21, 2026. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

Global stocks fell sharply on Thursday, led by a 12.2% drop in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index following weak earnings and political shifts. The Nasdaq Composite tumbled into a correction, sliding 5.5% on artificial intelligence spending concerns. The selloff signals mounting investor anxiety over high valuations and policy headwinds facing the technology sector.