Asian Stocks Slide Amid Global AI Funding Fears

Asian markets were mostly lower Monday as investors awaited major technology-company earnings and central-bank decisions, with concern that costly AI investments may not deliver sufficient returns weighing on sentiment. The weakness followed a sharper Friday selloff, when AI funding concerns—sharpened by Meta’s reported cash outflow—hit technology shares and pushed investors toward government bonds and other safe havens. Oil, which had surged to multiyear highs amid supply concerns, retreated Monday but remained elevated, keeping inflation and growth risks in focus. Investors are looking to results from companies including Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon for evidence that heavy AI spending can pay off.