# Stock Market Shows Strain as AI Investment Doubts Grow

> U.S. stocks dip after AI investment concerns rise.
- Title: Stock Market Shows Strain as AI Investment Doubts Grow
- Summary: U.S. stocks dip after AI investment concerns rise. U.S. stocks fell as investors worry AI spending may not yield returns.
- Keywords: s&p 500, nasdaq, ai investments, tech spending, stock market, u.s. economy, investor caution, ai data centers, memory chips, bond sales, news, world
- Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/business/markets/stock-market-ai-data-centers-doubts-rcna603710
- Author: Rob Wile
- Published: 2026-10-15T21:33:56.472+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: s&p 500, nasdaq, ai investments, tech spending, stock market, u.s. economy, investor caution, ai data centers, memory chips, bond sales, news, world
## U.S. stocks hit record highs
U.S. stocks reached record highs after nearly half of U.S. economy growth this year was attributed to tech-related spending.
## Stocks show signs of strain
U.S. stocks fell 1% from week-ago highs as investors fret about returns on trillions in AI investments.
## Tech sector declines
The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped more than 3% below its peak last week as quarterly revenue growth at Anthropic slowed.
## AI company revenue
Anthropic, expected to be worth more than $1 trillion when public, reported $17 billion in revenue and profitability.
## China's memory chip threat
Rising concerns that Chinese memory technology companies could undermine or overtake Western rivals in the market.
## Bond sales for data centers
Investors sold bonds backing some data centers due to fears AI revenues won't cover borrowing costs.
## Economist lowers S&P target
Economist Ed Yardeni lowered his year-end S&P 500 target to 7,900 from 8,400 due to investor caution about AI and inflation.
## Current S&P 500 level
The S&P 500 currently sits at about 7,600, below Yardeni's revised target.
## Key takeaway

U.S. stocks fell as investors worry AI spending may not yield returns.