Tuesday's market witnessed a pronounced pivot in investment strategies, as capital flowed away from previously dominant tech sectors into more undervalued segments like small-cap equities and the defensive pharmaceutical industry. This broader reallocation was spurred by a widening understanding of artificial intelligence's impact, extending beyond chip manufacturers to diverse economic areas. Consequently, key market indicators reflected this shift, with specific sectors experiencing significant gains while others, notably high-flying chip stocks, faced downward pressure.
The Russell 2000, representing smaller companies, saw a robust increase of 2% on Tuesday, marking its most impressive three-day rally since November 2024 with a cumulative 7% gain. This upward movement indicates a growing investor confidence in cyclical and underpriced assets, with the belief that AI advancements will stimulate productivity across a wider range of industries. Concurrently, the healthcare sector distinguished itself as a top performer, with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) climbing 2.2% during the day, contributing to a 10% month-to-date surge, its best monthly performance since April 2020.
In contrast to the broader market enthusiasm, leading semiconductor companies experienced a cooling-off period. NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) shares declined by nearly 4% following reports that Meta Platforms Inc. (META) was exploring a substantial investment in Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOG, GOOGL) proprietary AI chips. This development sparked concerns regarding a potential decrease in Nvidia's commanding position within the generative AI supply chain. Nvidia is now on track for its steepest monthly decline since late 2022, with a 14% drop in November. Similarly, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) fell 7% on Tuesday, extending its November losses to 20%, also heading for its worst monthly performance since September 2022.
Despite the challenges faced by chipmakers, some major technology firms continued their upward trajectory. Alphabet's stock reached an unprecedented high above $320 per share, marking its sixth consecutive month of gains, fueled by optimism about Google's competitive advantage in AI. Apple Inc. (AAPL) also achieved new all-time highs near $280, bolstered by CEO Tim Cook's strategic commitment to increasing investments in China. Furthermore, corporate earnings reports drove significant stock movements, with Zoom Video Communications Inc. (ZM) soaring over 13% after surpassing quarterly expectations, poised for its strongest daily performance since November 2022. Conversely, Burlington Stores Inc. (BURL) plummeted 10% after providing a fourth-quarter forecast that fell below market estimates.
In the commodities market, gold appreciated by 0.5% to $4,150 per ounce, while crude oil saw a 1.5% decrease to $57 per barrel, attributed to news of a U.S. peace proposal accepted by Ukraine, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that further negotiations are still necessary. Bitcoin (BTC) remained relatively stable, trading around $87,000, yet it recorded a 20% decline month-to-date, marking its most significant monthly drop since June 2022. These varied movements across different assets underscore a complex market environment influenced by technological shifts, corporate performance, and geopolitical events.