Sandisk

The S&P 500 retreated from its record as pressure in large technology names outweighed selective strength in memory stocks and Reddit’s index-inclusion surge. Softer retail sales, weaker consumer sentiment and worsening disruption near Hormuz left traders reassessing growth, inflation and rate expectations at the same time.

Sandisk and Western Digital fell sharply in pre-market trading even after strong quarterly results, as guidance failed to clear high investor expectations. The move is prompting crypto traders to ask whether cooling AI momentum, rising gold and bitcoin’s hold above $64,000 point to a broader shift in capital flows.

A sharp but contained bout of volatility around the Federal Reserve rate decision forced liquidations across roughly 87,294 traders, even as bitcoin and ether finished close to where they began. Losses hit both bullish and bearish positions, while crypto-listed equity perpetuals tied to the chip trade added another layer of market stress.

Powerful long-term narratives across AI infrastructure, precious metals and bitcoin have attracted aggressive capital flows, but recent reversals show that even genuine themes remain exposed to market cycles. FXCOINZ examines how enthusiasm around memory chips, the debasement trade and bitcoin-linked corporate strategy turned into sharp valuation stress.

Samsung’s record quarterly profit was not enough to support AI-linked chip stocks, adding to doubts over whether infrastructure spending can keep expanding at the same pace. The cooling sentiment could matter for crypto markets if capital begins rotating away from crowded AI trades and back toward digital assets.

AI-linked memory and semiconductor shares that dominated much of 2026 are losing momentum after a blistering run. Bitcoin has bounced from a two-year low, prompting fresh questions about whether capital is rotating back into crypto.