The Nasdaq Composite closed down between 1% and 1.3% on September 14, 2026, following a public appeal from AI industry leaders to decelerate the development of advanced models. These executives cited concerns regarding safety risks associated with the current pace of innovation.
Nvidia shares declined by 3% to 3.7%, reaching a three-week low. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index experienced a sharper drop of 5.5% to 6%. International markets also reacted, with the South Korean KOSPI index falling over 3%, alongside declines in Taiwanese and European semiconductor firms.
Broader market indices showed more resilience, as the S&P 500 fell by 0.6% to 0.7%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.2% to 0.3%. Analysts noted that Nvidia maintains an order backlog valued in the trillions of dollars despite the market volatility.
Additional pressure on the market came from rising oil prices, which exceeded $108 per barrel. This increase complicates the inflation outlook ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting, impacting growth stocks that are sensitive to interest rate expectations.
