Alphabet(US:GOOGL) Stock Market News·2025-09-21 18:00Group 1: Immigration Policy Impact on Tech Sector - The tech sector is facing a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, effective September 21, 2025, which initially caused panic among Silicon Valley executives [2] - The fee will be a one-time payment applicable only to new H-1B applicants, not renewals or existing visa holders, alleviating some immediate concerns [3] - Analysts believe this policy change represents a "major blow" to the U.S. tech industry, which heavily relies on skilled workers from countries like India and China [3] Group 2: Market Reaction to H-1B Fee - Following the announcement, shares of U.S.-listed Indian IT firms experienced declines, with Infosys ADRs dropping 4%, Wipro slipping 2%, and Cognizant declining 4.7% [4] - Analysts suggest that the fee hike significantly raises costs and diminishes competitiveness for U.S. tech giants like Apple, Alphabet, NVIDIA, and Tesla [4] Group 3: Tariff Policy and Market Volatility - President Trump threatened sanctions and additional tariffs on Mexico over a water treaty dispute, which historically tends to "rattle equity markets" [5] - The market's response to tariff announcements has been volatile, with significant drops in indices following major tariff news, such as a 1,679-point drop (4%) in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in April 2025 [5] - Conversely, a "tariff pause" in April 2025 led to a market rally, highlighting investors' preference for stability [5] Group 4: Trade Relations with China - The upcoming meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping regarding TikTok, tariffs, and tech has provided a temporary boost to market sentiment, leading to record highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq [6] - The anticipation of trade deal resolutions has been a significant driver of market rallies, despite ongoing uncertainties [6] Group 5: The Trump Media & Technology Group - The stock performance of Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) has been driven more by retail investor sentiment and political affinity than traditional financial metrics, resembling a "meme stock" phenomenon [7] - Following its merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC), DJT's stock saw significant fluctuations, including a 239% surge after Trump won the Iowa caucus [7] Group 6: Analyst Perspectives on Market Dynamics - Goldman Sachs Research estimates that a five-percentage-point increase in U.S. tariff rates could reduce S&P 500 earnings per share by 1-2% [8] - The ongoing policy uncertainty is expected to weigh on the value of U.S. stocks, with analysts noting a disconnect between administration intent and investor assumptions [8] Group 7: Conclusion on Market Behavior - The financial markets continue to react dramatically to Trump's policy announcements, oscillating between fear and euphoria [9] - The unpredictability of the market, driven by immigration policies, tariff threats, and trade negotiations, creates a challenging environment for investors [9]