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Date: 5th February 2026.

Big Day for Central Banks as Tech Stocks Slide and Precious Metals Turn Volatile.

Global financial markets are facing renewed pressure as a sharp pullback in technology stocks ripples across regions, while traditionally defensive assets such as gold and silver fail to provide stability. What started as a valuation-driven selloff in US tech has evolved into a broader reassessment of risk, affecting Asian equities, European markets, commodities, currencies, and cryptocurrencies.

At the centre of the turbulence lies growing scepticism around artificial intelligence (AI) valuations, rising capital expenditures, and the sustainability of recent market gains.

Tech Stocks Under Pressure as AI Valuation Concerns Grow​

Asian technology shares extended their losses, with MSCI’s Asia Tech Index falling for the fifth time in six sessions. Major companies such as Samsung Electronics and SoftBank Group declined, while South Korea’s Kospi Index, widely viewed as a proxy for AI-related investment, dropped more than 3%.

The weakness followed a volatile US session where disappointing earnings reactions from Alphabet, Qualcomm, and Arm reignited concerns that AI expectations may be running ahead of near-term profitability. Even companies that reported stronger-than-expected earnings struggled to support their share prices, a sign that market sentiment toward high-growth tech stocks has shifted.

Semiconductor and Software Stocks Lead the Decline​

The selloff has been particularly intense among chipmakers and software companies, as investors question whether massive AI-related spending will translate into sustainable revenue growth. Fears are also emerging that AI innovation could disrupt existing software business models rather than enhance them.

The Nasdaq 100 recorded its worst two-day decline since October, breaking below its 100-day moving average, a technical level often associated with further downside risk. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Tech Index has fallen nearly 20% from recent highs, placing it firmly in bear-market territory.

Market Rotation Signals Caution, Not Capitulation​

Despite the speed of the selloff, market participants are increasingly viewing the move as a sector rotation rather than a systemic panic. With the US economy showing resilience, investors are reallocating capital toward defensive sectors, including healthcare, consumer staples, and select industrial names.

This rotation has led to significant value destruction within the technology sector. In just two days, hundreds of billions of dollars were erased from the market capitalisation of companies across the AI ecosystem, particularly among US-listed software firms.

Gold and Silver Prices Plunge Amid Position Unwinding​

In a surprising development, precious metals, often seen as safe-haven assets, have come under intense selling pressure.

Silver Suffers Historic Selloff​

Silver prices collapsed by as much as 17%, marking one of the sharpest drops on record. After surging to multi-year highs on speculative inflows, geopolitical uncertainty, and expectations of lower US interest rates, the metal has retreated more than one-third from its recent peak.

Thin liquidity, leveraged positioning, and aggressive profit-taking amplified the move, creating a feedback loop that weighed heavily on broader market sentiment.

Gold Prices Follow Lower​

Gold prices also fell sharply, posting their largest decline since 2013 before stabilising. Although longer-term fundamentals remain intact, the abrupt pullback underscores how quickly crowded trades can unwind when sentiment shifts.

Base metals such as copper also weakened, pressured by rising inventories and slowing global growth expectations.

Bitcoin and Crypto Markets Slide as Risk Appetite Fades​

Bitcoin extended its losses, briefly drifting toward the $70,000 level as global risk appetite deteriorated and the US dollar strengthened. Despite its reputation as an alternative asset, Bitcoin continues to trade in line with broader liquidity conditions, particularly during periods of heightened volatility.

Currency Markets Focus on Central Banks and Political Risk​

In foreign exchange markets, the US dollar gained modestly, pushing the euro and British pound slightly lower ahead of interest-rate decisions from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE). Both central banks are widely expected to keep rates unchanged, but traders remain sensitive to forward guidance.

Japanese Yen Nears Intervention Levels​

The Japanese yen has weakened for several consecutive sessions, approaching levels that previously triggered official intervention. Political developments are adding to the pressure, with markets anticipating that a strong election outcome for Japan’s ruling party could enable more expansionary fiscal policies, a combination that may further weigh on the currency.

Oil Prices Ease as Geopolitical Tensions Cool​

Crude oil prices declined after Iran confirmed it would engage in negotiations with the United States, easing immediate concerns about supply disruptions. At the same time, ongoing dialogue between US and Chinese leaders has kept trade relations and geopolitical risk firmly in focus.

Market Outlook: Volatility Likely to Persist​

The dominant theme across global markets is reassessment. After months of momentum-driven gains, particularly in AI-related assets, investors are now scrutinising valuations, earnings sustainability, and balance-sheet strength more carefully.

While long-term structural trends such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and automation remain intact, recent price action serves as a reminder that even the strongest narratives are vulnerable to corrections.

As markets navigate earnings season, central bank policy signals, and political developments, volatility is likely to remain elevated, with diversification and risk management taking centre stage once again.

Always trade with strict risk management. Your capital is the single most important aspect of your trading business.

Please note that times displayed based on local time zone and are from time of writing this report.

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Andria Pichidi
HFMarkets

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