What’s News in Markets: AI Price Tag, New Oil Rules, Short-Squeeze Payback

0:00T-Mobile is reinventing business internet with Super Broadband. Whether you run a small office or a factory of 500, connection is everything. Powered by America's fastest 5G internet, plus Starlink. Super Broadband from T-Mobile reaches every zip code in the U.S. Super Broadband, a new era of business internet. Visit superbroadband.com to learn more. This is 5G network based on analysis by Eucalypt Speed Test Intelligence. Data 2H 2025. Speeds vary due to local network characteristics and management. Satellite requires hardware installation. to clear view of this back-to-36-month commitment.

0:33Hey, listeners. It's Saturday, May 2nd. I'm Imani Moise for The Wall Street Journal. And this is What's News in Markets, our look at the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Let's dive in. Markets extended a multi-week run of record highs, powered by a wave of earnings showing corporate America is still minting money, even in the face of war, higher oil prices, and more cautious consumer spending. No biggie. Both the S &P 500 and NASDAQ finished April with their biggest monthly gain since 2020 and kicked off May by hitting fresh records. All three major indexes finished the week higher.

1:11The NASDAQ was up 1.1 percent, the S &P rose 0.9 percent, and the Dow inched up 0.6 percent.

1:22Big tech is making big money on AI, but they aren't the booming industry's biggest winners. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta all posted strong earnings this week, with AI driving growth in their cloud businesses. Amazon's cloud unit grew at its fastest pace in years, helping push overall revenue up 17%. Microsoft's revenue jumped 18%, and Meta reported its biggest revenue growth in nearly five years. But each of those companies also announced plans to increase their spending. You may have heard, tech giants are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into data centers, chips, and infrastructure to keep up with demand.

2:01And those costs are rising fast. In fact, the industry is expected to spend nearly$3 trillion on AI infrastructure over the next few years, according to Morgan Stanley. That spending frenzy has catapulted tech infrastructure stocks like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron into a whole new league. Those three companies alone are expected to generate around$350 billion in profit this year, with some now ranking among the most profitable businesses in the world. Shares in Micron and SK Hynix rallied about 9.5 % over the week, respectively, while shares in Microsoft and Meta slid around 2 % and 10%. Google parent Alphabet, which is playing both sides of the AI trade, was a standout.

2:44Its shares finished the week 12 % higher.

2:55Energy stocks were once again among the top performers this week. That came as crude surged to its highest level since the start of the conflict in Iran. Oil markets are settling into a new normal. The war isn't just pushing prices higher, it's pretty much reshaping the global energy system. Less driven by supply and demand, and more driven by power and politics. When the United Arab Emirates said Tuesday it would leave OPEC, that of course is the alliance of major oil producers that help stabilize global prices, it kicked a leg out from an already unstable stool. Major oil importers in Asia and Europe are scrambling to reduce their reliance on the Mideast, while big producers, like the U.S., are competing for market share in an increasingly fragmented system.

3:39Analysts say in today's oil market, it's every country for itself, which means investors should brace for prices that are predictably unpredictable. U.S. crude futures rose 8 % over the week to about$102 a barrel, while the S &P Energy Index rose 3.2%. And a rental car company is accusing one of its major shareholders of taking its stock for a joyride. Avis is demanding that a Florida hedge fund return a portion of its trading profits following what some are calling the wildest short squeeze of the year. CEO Brian Choi says that Pentwater Capital Management fueled excess volatility as the stock rocketed from below$150 at the end of March to roughly$848 last week.

4:26Choi says the hedge fund was seemingly the only major investor that was active during that time and that a niche short-swing profit rule requires the firm to hand over gains from shares it bought and sold within a six-month window. Pentwater has already voluntarily agreed to return profits from 94 ,000 of the 4.3 million shares it unloaded during the rally. After last week's short squeeze, which sent Avis stock surging more than 300 % at their peak, shares came back to earth and then lost another 9 % this week.

5:01And now you know what's news in markets this week. You can read about more stocks that moved on the week's news in our live markets coverage on WSJ.com. Today's show was produced by Anthony Bansi with Deputy Editor Chris Sinsley. I'm Imani Moise. Have a great weekend and catch you next Saturday.

5:27This episode is sponsored by Morgan Stanley's Thoughts on the Market. It can be difficult to stay up to date on the financial market in today's ever-changing environment. With so much commentary at any given moment, it's hard to cut through the noise to gain quality, actionable insights. Morgan Stanley is here to help with their podcast, Thoughts on the Market. Thoughts on the Market is your daily market snapshot, covering trends across the global investment landscape and offering perspectives from Morgan Stanley's leading economists and strategists. It's one of the only daily podcasts providing real-time commentary from a financial institution on the day's biggest questions and topics.

6:06And with most episodes under five minutes long, market clarity can fit seamlessly into your daily routine. Staying informed has never been easier. Listen and subscribe to Thoughts on the Market on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.