Wall Street Journal: AI funding costs rise, chip stocks slump, Apple surpasses Nvidia in market value

U.S. tech stocks fell broadly this week, led by a 28.58% drop in Intel shares after the company issued lower-than-expected revenue guidance. AI funding costs have risen sharply, with OpenAI scaling back its target valuation to $1.25 trillion while seeking $20 billion in funding. High-yield AI debt issuance surged to $489 billion in 2026, exceeding prior forecasts, and a $5 billion AI loan finalized with a yield over 11%. Apple's market value briefly exceeded Nvidia's to become the world's most valuable company.