Good afternoon and welcome to Markets Desk.
Microsoft's earnings gave the AI trade a meaningful lift this week, with analysts now suggesting the sector may have found a floor after months of pressure. The signal came not just from the numbers, but from trading patterns around a major hedge fund liquidation — when forced sellers meet buyers, that's often where bottoms form.
Shifting to commodities, cocoa prices surged more than five percent Thursday on both the New York and London exchanges, driven by fresh concerns over global supply disruptions. Fund managers who had been short the market scrambled to cover their positions, accelerating the move. Tight West African harvests remain the underlying pressure point, and traders are watching weather patterns closely.
Meanwhile, SentinelOne's chief financial officer sold nearly thirteen thousand shares at just over eighteen dollars apiece, generating roughly two hundred thirty-seven thousand dollars in proceeds. Insider sales at a cybersecurity firm already trading near multi-year lows will draw scrutiny — investors will want to understand whether this reflects routine portfolio management or a softer read on near-term fundamentals.
That's the tape. Markets Desk, signing off the floor.
