Global markets breathed a collective sigh of relief as U.S. President Donald Trump conceded the Democrats’ sweeping victory in both houses of Congress, reducing election uncertainty. U.S. stock futures bounced back from early losses, buoying European equities, while Asian markets showed limited changes.
AI Stocks Surge as Midterm Results Shift Market Focus
The S&P 500 futures reversed their early declines, surging 1.1%. A renewed appetite for AI stocks, which had recently experienced setbacks, triggered a robust rise in Nasdaq 100 futures. Meanwhile, shares connected to Tesla and SpaceX slipped amid the Democratic triumphs in the Senate and the Texas gubernatorial race.
The Democrats’ successes in traditionally Republican strongholds have amplified expectations that Trump may face more legislative challenges in Congress compared to the first two years of his second term. Trump indicated his willingness to collaborate with the opposition-controlled House of Representatives and Senate should Democrats desire it.
U.S. Dollar and Bond Yields See Decline
U.S. 10-year Treasury yields fell by three basis points, landing at 4.93%. The dollar weakened against all major currencies, marking its most significant daily drop since September. The New Zealand dollar led gains, appreciating 0.7% against the greenback, while both the euro and the Swiss franc advanced by 0.4%.
Movements in bond and currency markets reflect the anticipation that a Democrat-controlled Congress may curb budget expansion, easing concerns over federal government borrowing. Declining bond yields and confidence in the resilience of the U.S. economy further supported the rebound in equities.
The election results stirred a mixed response in equity sectors. While falling bond yields and renewed interest in AI stocks propelled Nasdaq 100 futures upward, shares linked to Tesla and SpaceX did not participate in the tech sector’s rally.
