Global tech stocks slide on AI regulation fears after US midterms

Global tech stocks fell sharply Friday after a US midterm election victory by Democrats sparked fears of tighter AI regulation, triggering a sell-off that spread from Wall Street to Asian and London markets. The Nasdaq index plunged 5.5% Thursday, its worst day in 19 months, as investors worried that stricter rules could slow datacenter construction and undermine the massive spending driving the AI boom, according to analysts. The decline reflects broader investor anxiety about returns on AI investments, with strategists noting that a potential slowdown in infrastructure build-out could disrupt the industry's growth trajectory.