European Stocks Slip as U.S.-Iran Tensions and Earnings Season Weigh on Markets 
U.S. and EU Strengthen Critical Minerals Partnership to Reduce China Dependence 
Australia Inflation Surges in March as Fuel Prices Spike Amid Middle East Conflict 
Trump Urges Iran to Sign Nuclear Deal Amid Ongoing Conflict and Port Blockade 
BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda Hints at Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Build 
Gold Prices Fall as Strong Dollar and Rising Oil Prices Pressure Markets 
Wall Street Futures Rise as Trump Discusses Iran’s Hormuz Strait Proposal and Tech Earnings Loom 
Yen Strengthens as BOJ Signals Rate Hikes; Asian Currencies Slip Ahead of Fed Meeting 
Dollar Strengthens as US-Iran Tensions and Central Bank Decisions Drive Currency Markets 
Asian Stocks Mixed as BOJ Holds Rates, Oil Prices and Fed Outlook Weigh on Markets 
Trump Urges Iran to Call for Talks as War Stalemate Disrupts Oil Markets 
Oil Price Forecasts Rise for 2026 as Middle East Supply Risks Persist 
China’s Ultra-Cheap EV Boom: Why Electric Cars Cost Far Less Than in the U.S. 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead of Big Tech Earnings and Fed Decision 
Gold Prices Dip Ahead of Fed Decision Amid Rising Middle East Tensions 
Trump Signals Prolonged Blockade Strategy Against Iran Amid Rising Tensions 
Oil Prices Rise Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and Strait of Hormuz Deadlock 
Tech stocks are poised for a double-digit rally by the end of 2024, followed by an even stronger bull market in 2025, according to a report released Sunday by Wedbush analysts.
After spending several weeks in Asia, Wedbush analysts expressed greater confidence in their “AI Revolution” demand thesis, highlighting significant demand in the supply chain for AI chips, led by Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). This demand is driving an increase in enterprise spending as AI applications expand across various industries.
Wedbush estimates that the overall AI infrastructure market could expand tenfold by 2027, with approximately $1 trillion in AI capital expenditures expected over the next three years. This tech spending wave is seen as a major growth driver for companies in semiconductors, software, infrastructure, and cybersecurity, as more generative AI models become critical to enterprise operations.
“AI projects and strategic initiatives continue to receive top priority within many enterprise IT budgets for 2025,” analysts said in the note. They anticipate a significant phase of software-driven growth as AI use cases become a focus for chief information officers.
Key Players in the AI-Driven Tech Boom
While Nvidia and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) are seen as leaders in AI, Wedbush also identified other key players driving the AI revolution, including Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), Palantir (NYSE: PLTR), Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), Dell (NYSE: DELL), IBM (NYSE: IBM), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), AMD (NASDAQ: AMD), and others.
“In a nutshell, we believe the stage is set for tech stocks to move 10% or more higher into year-end and another 20% in 2025 as this tech bull market enters its next phase, led by the AI Revolution,” analysts continued.
Market Outlook and Q3 Earnings Expectations
Wedbush expects the current AI-led tech spending trend to be a transformative force, potentially boosting margins and growth for tech companies through 2025. While market volatility is possible ahead of the U.S. Presidential Election, the firm predicts a “very strong Q3 tech earnings season.” The analysts believe the market is underestimating the ripple effects of the AI-driven spending cycle, which they see as just beginning to impact the broader tech sector.
