Finance · South Africa
How AI Concerns Are Affecting South Africa's Stock Market
Moneyweb · 2026/02/22
Summary
The stock market is currently experiencing what experts call a 'doom loop' related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Investors are worried because companies involved with AI are not performing as well as expected. While AI is seen as a promising technology that could change many industries, the stock prices of businesses linked to AI are dropping. This is because investors fear that the technology might not deliver the big financial gains they hoped for, or that AI could disrupt existing markets in ways that create uncertainty. As a result, stocks of companies with any connection to AI are facing pressure and declining values, affecting the overall market. This cycle of disappointment and sell-offs is making it harder for these stocks to recover, creating a negative feedback loop that affects investors’ confidence.
OnABudget takeaway: For everyday investors and small business owners, it is important to be cautious about investing in AI-focused companies right now due to uncertainty and potential losses. Keeping a balanced portfolio and focusing on steady, less risky investments might be safer until the AI market stabilizes.