Tech Stocks Tumble Amid Inflation Worries and Geopolitical Tensions

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq experienced a slump on Tuesday, with technology stocks notably declining. This drop followed a surprising inflation report and ongoing Middle East tensions, leading to dampened market sentiment. April saw U.S. consumer prices increase at a rapid pace for the second month, bringing annual inflation to its highest in nearly three years.

President Donald Trump's comments about stalled ceasefire efforts with Iran kept crude prices high, intensifying inflation worries. The market is now closely monitoring the Federal Reserve, as investors speculate that any future interest rate move might be a hike rather than a cut, altering market dynamics significantly.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 177.42 points, the S&P 500 fell 65.48 points, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 448.73 points. Technology stocks, particularly chip stocks, were significantly impacted. South Korea's policy adviser suggested redistributing AI-era excess earnings, further affecting investor decisions. Meanwhile, investor attention is turning to President Trump's upcoming China visit.

(With inputs from agencies.)