Markets Drift Lower as Tech Bulls Sound the Alarm

US Market Highlights

Tech megacaps are under pressure today. Analyst Dan Ives flagged that META and MSFT are being "treated like bear market stocks." The warning adds to a broader unease in large-cap tech. GOOGL, AMZN, and MU are all caught in the same narrative.

DKNG bucked the trend. Shares climbed after the company launched DKeX, its own prediction markets exchange. The news gave the stock a clear catalyst heading into the weekend.

On the short side, WOLF remains the standout bear target. Short interest is 117% of free float. Availability has hit zero. Options desks are loading up on weekly puts. The semiconductor firm faces mounting fundamental pressure.

Insider selling dominated filings this week. ASTS CEO Abel Avellan sold $146.7M in shares. NVDA director Mark Stevens filed over $186M in sales. The Walton family trimmed $533M from WMT. Against that flow, activist firm Mantle Ridge bought into DLTR — the one notable buy of the week.

Earnings season is wrapping up. NKE and STZ both report Monday after the close. Options desks are active on both names ahead of results.

European & Global Markets

Oil dropped back below pre-Iran-conflict levels. Brent crude fell under $72.48 per barrel as Gulf supply flows recovered. That is a sharp reversal for energy markets.

Bitcoin fell below $60,000. Retail investors appear to be rotating out of crypto into AI-related equities. Cathie Wood's Ark Invest is among those caught on the wrong side of that trade.

EasyJet is in talks with Castlelake after rejecting a £4.9 billion takeover offer. South Korea delayed plans for new single-stock options amid record market volatility.