Global stock markets showed signs of recovery on Friday, November 6, 2026, as shares in artificial intelligence and technology firms climbed following a brutal multi-day sell-off that erased trillions of dollars in market value. According to a BBC report, the tech-heavy Nasdaq stock index opened higher after a widespread market rout began in the United States on Thursday before spreading across Asian and European exchanges.
The severe correction was triggered in part by investor anxieties following a sweeping Democratic victory in the US midterm elections, which markets feared could lead to tighter rules and regulations for artificial intelligence development and massive data center expansions. However, strong macroeconomic data released on Friday morning helped stabilize sentiment, with the US economy adding an unexpectedly robust 165,000 jobs in October and the national unemployment rate easing to 4.1%.
Wall Street Recovery and Sector Performance
Following steep losses on Thursday, major US indexes clawed back some ground by the end of the trading week. The Nasdaq Composite bounced back 1.4%, partially reversing a sharp 5.5% plunge from the previous session. The S&P 500 rose 0.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average remained relatively flat.
Individual technology heavyweights experienced significant volatility. Nvidia, which shed hundreds of billions in market value after sliding more than 9% on Thursday, recovered part of those losses to trade up over 3% on Friday. Other key players saw varied rebounds: Tesla and SpaceX shares climbed nearly 5% and 8% respectively. Semiconductor makers AMD and Micron, which plummeted over 17% during Thursday’s rout, rallied on Friday with AMD gaining about 10% and Micron rising more than 5%.
International Markets Face Continued Pressure
While US markets found some relief, international exchanges experienced heavier downward pressure. In South Korea, the Kospi index closed down 6% on Friday, driven by a more than 10% plunge in shares of major chipmaker SK Hynix. European markets similarly struggled, with major indexes in Germany, France, and Spain ending the session in negative territory.
In the United Kingdom, the FTSE 100 declined 1.01%. British traders were also processing a recent decision by the Bank of England to raise interest rates alongside signals that further hikes might be necessary to control inflation.
Outlook and Regulatory Uncertainty
Market analysts note that the recent turbulence highlights changing sentiment regarding the immense capital being poured into artificial intelligence infrastructure. Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, pointed out that while markets saw a brutal week, the key question remains whether Friday’s rebound will hold into the coming week.
Political dynamics are expected to play a central role in the sector’s trajectory. The incoming congressional majority includes lawmakers who campaigned heavily on stricter oversight of AI data centers and technology firms. Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates, emphasized that the industry faces growing pressure to communicate its societal benefits more effectively to local communities grappling with rising energy costs linked to data center expansion.