European markets tumble as tech rout hits Brussels, Paris, and Frankfurt

European stock markets opened sharply lower Friday, following a rout on Wall Street and in Asia driven by tech losses, as investors fear Democratic election victories will slow artificial intelligence growth. Brussels' Bel20 fell 1.60%, dropping below 6,000 points just two days after its record high. Paris fell 1.37%, London 1.47%, Frankfurt 1.68%, and Milan 1.24%. The Nasdaq dropped 5.52%, its worst day since April 2025, with the S&P 500 down 4.35% and Dow Jones 3.44%. Newly elected Democrats campaigned on slowing data center construction essential for AI. Tokyo's Nikkei fell 5.69% and Seoul's Kospi plunged 7.92%, triggering a trading halt. Strategists note investors hold similar exposure to uninterrupted AI spending, and when that assumption is questioned, selling becomes self-reinforcing.