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Futures Steady as Tech Selloff Eases; Amazon Drops on AI Spending Surge

U.S. stock futures held steady in early premarket trading after a sharp tech-led decline earlier in the week, giving investors a moment to reassess the sector’s rapid pullback. Major index futures hovered near flat, suggesting a more measured tone after days of volatility. While sentiment remains cautious, some traders appear to be stepping back in following the recent selloff in high‑growth names. Amazon shares slipped in premarket action after the company signaled a significant increase in capital expenditures tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure. The planned investment highlights Amazon’s push to expand its AI capabilities, but the scale of spending raised concerns about near‑term pressure on margins. Market attention now turns to upcoming economic data and corporate earnings, which could help determine whether tech stocks regain momentum or continue to face headwinds. For the moment, futures point to a steadier start as investors look for the next catalyst.

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IKEA lowers prices in several countries to attract more customers

 

The price cuts, which will take effect from February 1, are part of IKEA’s strategy to boost sales volumes and market share in the wake of the pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains and increased shipping costs. IKEA said it aims to bring prices back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year.

Some of the products that will see lower prices are KALLAX storage cubes, BILLY bookcases, and MALM bed frames. IKEA is already selling more of these products in some countries, according to Tolga Oncu, Ingka Retail Manager at Ingka Group, the biggest owner of IKEA stores.

“When you lower the price you also need to see a volume increase,” Oncu said. “Every country is sitting and looking at where are the opportunities for us to, by lowering the prices, sell more pieces.”

IKEA is not the only retailer that is adjusting its prices in response to changing market conditions. Other companies, such as Walmart and Target, have also lowered or raised prices on certain items to cope with inflation and supply chain issues.

IKEA, which operates in 52 markets, said it has invested more than 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) in price reductions across its markets from September to November. The company also said it is not expecting any major impact from the recent disruptions in the Red Sea, which have affected global freight movements.

IKEA is owned by a separate company, Inter IKEA, which manufactures all IKEA products. Ingka Group is the main global franchisee of IKEA. 

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