Stocks fell lower on Thursday as market participants reacted to the first series of Big Tech quarterly earnings reports. Investors also turned their attention towards the latest trade developments between the United States and China as their respective leaders concluded a meeting with a tentative trade truce.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average
Big Tech earnings dominated investor sentiment on Thursday as overnight news from President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting in South Korea reported that the two leaders of the largest global economies reached a deal that would delay Beijing's rare earth export controls -- one of the biggest points of contention between the nations -- by a least a year. In concession, the United States said it would reduce its tariffs on Chinese imports related to fentanyl to 10% from 20%.
Alphabet
"We have signed more deals over one billion dollars through Q3 this year than we did in the previous two years combined," CEO Sundar Pichai told analysts during the company's earnings call, added that over 70% of existing Google Cloud clients use their AI products.
Meta Platforms
Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said during the company's earnings call that Meta'a AI initiatives consistently require more computing power, leading the company to increase its full-year capital expenditures guidance to a new range of $70 billion to $72 billion.
Microsoft
The company said it expects Azure's growth at constant currency to be 37% in its current quarter, as the company continues to benefit from its growing AI business.
Looking ahead, market participants will turn their attention towards another round of earnings reports, including megacaps Apple
