Global stocks came under renewed pressure on Tuesday, with technology shares bearing the brunt of selling as investors braced for a more aggressive Federal Reserve stance on inflation, even as oil prices continued their sharp decline following progress in the U.S.-Iran peace process.

The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 1.2%, dragged lower by semiconductor and chip-equipment makers. Futures on the Nasdaq pointed to further losses of more than 2.5%, extending Monday’s 1.3% decline. SpaceX shares tumbled nearly 17% in their second day of trading after the rocket company’s blockbuster IPO, while heavyweights such as Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft also posted sharp losses. S&P 500 e-mini futures were down around 1.5%.

“These are far from dull markets,” said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group in Melbourne. “The former generals of the market appear to have lost momentum and investors are rotating into other areas of the market that are more defensive, less AI-focused and offer more predictable cash flows.”

The sell-off in tech-heavy indices highlights a growing theme: as expectations for higher interest rates solidify, the premium investors have been willing to pay for growth stocks, particularly those tied to artificial intelligence, is coming under scrutiny.

Oil Plunge Fails to Lift Sentiment as Focus Shifts to Central Banks

Brent crude futures slipped below $76 a barrel for the first time since early March, reflecting a rapid normalization in oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz as vessels resume transit following the U.S.-Iran ceasefire framework. Physical market prices have almost returned to pre-war levels, offering some relief on the energy front.

Yet rather than boosting risk appetite, the drop in oil has shifted investor attention squarely back to monetary policy. With inflation proving stickier than hoped, new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is signaling a willingness to act more forcefully. Money markets are now pricing in a near-certainty of a rate hike by September, pushing the 2-year Treasury yield, the most sensitive to near-term rate expectations, to its highest level in 16 months, around 4.188%. Longer-dated yields have also climbed.

“The adjustment higher in U.S. yields is creating a more challenging backdrop for risk assets in the near term after strong gains in recent months,” said MUFG currency strategist Lee Hardman.

This dynamic is particularly painful for the technology sector. For years, megacap tech names with strong balance sheets could largely ignore rising rates. Now, with many hyperscalers burning cash on massive AI infrastructure buildouts, borrowing costs matter more. Higher yields raise the discount rate applied to future earnings, making today’s sky-high valuations look more vulnerable.

Currencies and Safe-Haven Flows

The stronger U.S. dollar added to the pressure across global markets. The greenback hit one-year highs against a basket of currencies as rate hike bets intensified. The Japanese yen remained pinned near 161.47, showing little relief despite recent interventions. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama held an online meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday, a discussion analysts interpreted as raising the odds of further official action from Tokyo to support the currency.

In Europe, the pound slipped 0.3% to $1.3215, extending losses after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, clearing the way for what is expected to be a smooth transition to Andy Burnham. The move comes on the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum, adding a layer of symbolic weight to sterling’s weakness.

Gold, often a beneficiary during periods of uncertainty, fell 2% to $4,100 an ounce as the stronger dollar and higher yields reduced its appeal. Cryptocurrencies followed suit, with bitcoin dropping 3.1% below $63,000 and ether sliding nearly 5% to $1,650.

Rotation Away from AI Leadership

The day’s moves bolstered a narrative of rotation. Investors appear to be trimming exposure to the high-growth, high-valuation AI trade in favor of more defensive areas with steadier cash flows. This shift has been building for weeks but accelerated as Warsh’s hawkish tone removed any lingering hopes of near-term rate relief.

South Korea’s KOSPI fell 10% in its largest one-day drop since March, reflecting its heavy weighting toward semiconductors and tech. Taiwan’s market, another AI beneficiary, also faced selling pressure. The outperformance of these markets earlier in the year has given way to profit-taking as the broader environment turns less favorable.

Against this backdrop, markets are telling central banks that inflation remains the dominant concern, even as energy prices moderate. Warsh’s Fed is expected to prioritize taming price pressures over supporting asset prices, a stance that contrasts with the more accommodative approach seen in previous cycles.

The combination of higher-for-longer rates, a strong dollar, and geopolitical overhang, even as the Iran situation stabilizes, is creating a more challenging backdrop for risk assets. While the AI theme retains long-term structural tailwinds, near-term valuation pressures and rising borrowing costs are forcing investors to reassess.

Nissan has quietly halted development of a fully electric version of its best-selling Qashqai SUV in Europe, a significant pullback that reflects the Japanese automaker’s broader efforts to trim costs, simplify its lineup, and navigate softening demand for pure battery-electric vehicles in a fiercely competitive market.

Six sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that work on the electric Qashqai was stopped early last year, even though the project had been publicly championed in 2023 as a cornerstone of Nissan’s commitment to Britain’s largest car plant in Sunderland. The decision, which has not been previously reported, leaves a major gap in Nissan’s European electrification plans at a time when Chinese rivals are flooding the continent with affordable EVs and hybrids.

The move will save Nissan money in the short term but could delay any potential electric Qashqai until the early 2030s if the company later decides to revive it — putting it years behind competitors in one of Europe’s most popular SUV segments. The Qashqai accounted for about 45% of Nissan’s 330,000 vehicle sales in Europe last year, making it a critical model for the company’s regional performance.

In a statement, Nissan did not directly address the electric Qashqai project but said it remains committed to expanding its “electrified” lineup, which includes hybrids. The company pointed to “significant volatility” in European EV demand and said it is pursuing a “balanced” approach to electrification.

The development comes as Nissan undergoes a major global restructuring. The automaker is in active talks with the UK government for financial support tied to an updated roadmap for the Sunderland plant, which employs around 6,000 workers and produced more than 35% of all cars made in Britain last year. Any new funding is expected to be linked to commitments on new models and job protection.

A Shift from Bold EV Promises

Just two years ago, Nissan’s plans for an electric Qashqai were hailed by the UK government as a vote of confidence in Britain as a global EV manufacturing hub after Brexit. The company had committed to building the model at Sunderland alongside the existing electric Leaf and a newly unveiled electric Juke crossover.

That optimism has since given way to pragmatism. Nissan is cutting its global model count from 56 to 45 and has already confirmed it will pivot away from two planned electric SUVs at its plant in Canton, Mississippi, in favor of hybrids. The European decision fits into this pattern of prioritizing profitability and flexibility over rapid, full electrification.

Chinese competition is a major factor. Traditional European rivals and new entrants from China are offering more affordable EVs and hybrids, eroding the pricing power of legacy automakers. Nissan, which has struggled with profitability in recent years, appears unwilling to commit heavy capital to a pure EV Qashqai when demand remains uncertain and cheaper alternatives are gaining traction.

Proposals for new EU rules on local content requirements for EVs have also complicated the picture for manufacturing in Britain, which is no longer part of the bloc. Around 60% of UK-produced cars are exported to the EU, and being excluded from “Made in EU” labeling poses a real threat to the industry, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The uncertainty has already affected Nissan’s supply chain. Plans to build a three-in-one electric vehicle powertrain at a JATCO-operated factory in Sunderland have been scrapped, the companies confirmed.

The UK government is currently consulting carmakers on potential changes to EV sales targets that could ease pressure on manufacturers by allowing more hybrid production without punitive fines. Such adjustments would give Nissan greater flexibility at Sunderland, where it already builds petrol and hybrid Qashqai models.

A government spokesperson declined to comment on Nissan’s commercial decisions but has previously emphasized the importance of the Sunderland plant to the UK auto sector. Any new support package is likely to be tied to tangible commitments on production and jobs, sources said.

The decision comes when many automakers are also tempering aggressive EV targets as high interest rates, range anxiety, and charging infrastructure gaps slow consumer adoption in Europe. Hybrids, which offer a bridge for buyers not yet ready for full electrification, are seeing stronger demand in several markets.

Implications for Nissan and the UK Auto Sector

Halting the electric Qashqai does not mean Nissan is abandoning electrification in Europe. The company continues to invest in the Leaf and Juke EVs at Sunderland and is exploring collaboration with Chinese partner Chery to manufacture vehicles at the plant using one of its production lines.

Still, the move highlights the challenges facing legacy automakers in a market where Chinese brands are rapidly gaining share with lower-priced offerings. Now, Nissan preserving cash and maintaining flexibility appears to be taking precedence over sticking rigidly to earlier EV timelines.

The situation also puts pressure on the UK government, which has bet heavily on Sunderland as a flagship for post-Brexit automotive manufacturing. With thousands of jobs at stake and the plant’s future tied to government support, officials must balance industrial policy goals with the commercial realities facing global carmakers.

Nissan’s experience mirrors wider trends across Europe, where several automakers have delayed or scaled back pure EV projects as they reassess the pace of the transition. The combination of Chinese competition, regulatory uncertainty post-Brexit, and volatile consumer demand is forcing a more measured approach to electrification.