This week was marked by strong, event-driven volatility across the tech sector. Market moves were shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure announcements, semiconductor earnings, signals of macroeconomic stress and escalating tensions between the US and China. Effects of the US government shutdown, coupled with renewed trade tensions between the world’s largest tech markets, weighed on global equities. Quarterly results from regional banks eased earlier concerns about credit risks after Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ:ZION) and Western Alliance (NYSE:WAL) disclosed loan issues related to apparent fraud. Wall Street ultimately saw weekly gains, despite a midweek selloff that impacted high-value, high-risk sectors. Hardware and infrastructure were the core positive contributors in the tech sector, reflecting the ongoing AI supercycle investment theme fueled by chip production and data center buildouts. Semiconductor stocks were the standout performers, boosted by record earnings reports from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) (NYSE:TSM) on Tuesday (October 14) and ASML Holding…
