Microsoft(US:MSFT) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2026-02-01 02:39Core Viewpoint - Despite recent market volatility, the core drivers of the market have not changed significantly since the beginning of the year, according to Goldman Sachs' trading head Mark Wilson [1][5]. Market Volatility - The market experienced extreme volatility this week, with Microsoft suffering its second-largest single-day market value loss, dropping 10%, while SAP fell 16% [2]. - Silver saw a dramatic single-day drop of 30%, with the SLV ETF trading volume exceeding $32 billion, and the GLD ETF recorded over $30 billion in trading volume for two consecutive days [3][4]. Key Market Drivers - Key market drivers such as the continued strength of the dollar, sustained enthusiasm for AI investments, robust U.S. economic growth, and geopolitical shifts remain unchanged [1][6][8]. - Year-to-date market performance reflects these trends, with rare earths up 35%, nuclear stocks up 21%, and European defense stocks up 20% [8]. Investor Positioning - Investor positioning has reached extreme levels, with total exposure at the 99th percentile, indicating overcrowding in holdings [1][9]. - The semiconductor and semiconductor equipment sectors now account for 12% of hedge fund net risk exposure, up from just 1% two years ago, while the software sector has decreased from 18% to 3% [9]. Annual Core Views - Wilson maintains six core views established in December, including the notion that the AI narrative has reached a critical juncture, and the upcoming Federal Reserve chair appointment could be pivotal for the market [10][11]. - The importance of hard assets, particularly those linked to infrastructure demand, is emphasized, alongside the need for diversification in stock market investments [11]. Emerging Themes - Emerging themes include UK real estate stocks trading at over 30% discounts to net asset value, challenges for European equities amid a weakening dollar, and the significant shift in hedge fund exposure from software to semiconductors [12].