Global Markets Highlights: Tech Growth, AI Investments, and 2026 Opportunities
WILL THE TECH SECTOR KEEP GROWING IN 2026?
The current technology cycle is no longer limited to chatbots — it’s expanding into autonomous (agentic) AI, robotics, and self-driving vehicles. Although nearly $1 billion in capital expenditures has already been planned, analysts believe this investment remains below what’s needed and will continue to rise throughout next year.
U.S. policy is also supportive: the Federal Reserve has begun to lower interest rates again, and according to UBS analysis, these rate cuts tend to stimulate economic growth when there’s no recession. This reinforces expectations for stronger performance in the tech sector.
UBS has raised its S&P 500 earnings forecasts to $275 per share for 2025 and $295 for 2026, both up $5 from previous estimates — implying earnings growth of 10% and 7%, respectively.
Investors should also keep an eye on China’s tech sector, particularly Alibaba (BABA), which shows strong profit potential heading into 2026.
WALMART AND CHATGPT: A GAME-CHANGING PARTNERSHIP
Walmart’s newly announced partnership with OpenAI could be the catalyst that pushes the retail giant toward a $1 trillion market capitalization, according to Mizuho Securities analysts.
Analyst David Bellinger describes the integration of ChatGPT’s “Instant Pay” feature as “a major leap forward in overall commerce adoption and acceleration through intelligent agents.” He argues that Walmart is positioning itself ahead of competitors as AI begins to revolutionize online shopping behavior.
The partnership will allow customers to complete transactions directly through ChatGPT, with Walmart emphasizing the “proactive” and “predictive” nature of AI-driven shopping experiences.
APPLE JOINS FORMULA 1 IN A MULTI-YEAR DEAL
Apple has announced a five-year partnership with Formula 1 that will bring all F1 races exclusively to Apple TV in the United States starting next year.
The agreement includes comprehensive coverage of every Formula 1 event — from practice sessions to qualifying rounds, Sprint races, and Grand Prix weekends — all available to Apple TV subscribers.
Select races and all practice sessions will also be available for free on the Apple TV app throughout the season. This move strengthens Apple’s presence in live sports streaming and reinforces its strategy to diversify digital content offerings.
GOLD AND SILVER CORRECT AFTER RECORD HIGHS
Gold, a traditional safe-haven asset, dropped 2.6% on Friday, just hours after reaching a new record high of $4,379 per ounce. Similarly, silver has fallen over 4.6% after setting an all-time high earlier in the day.
Despite this correction, gold remains up 60.5% year-to-date, while silver still boasts an impressive 78.1% gain so far in 2025.
Both metals remain strong performers amid market volatility, but short-term traders may expect further price stabilization as investors rebalance positions.
TOP RECOMMENDATION FOR 2026: AMD
Bank of America has raised its price target for Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares from $250 to $300, maintaining a “Buy” rating due to rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications following AMD’s partnership with OpenAI.
AMD could generate an additional $1.4 billion in revenue in 2026 and $9.7 billion in 2027. Through this alliance, AMD may capture up to 7.5% of the AI accelerator market, significantly improving previous estimates (3–4%).
OpenAI and its partners are aiming to secure over 26 gigawatts of computing capacity, a massive investment exceeding $1 trillion, involving AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom.
In Summary
The global markets continue to evolve rapidly — with AI innovation, new tech investments, and strategic corporate alliances shaping the financial landscape of 2026.
FXLiveCapital will continue to analyze and deliver the key updates you need to stay ahead of market trends.
