Nasdaq Drops 1.43%: MicroStrategy Plummets, Lululemon Holds Steady
Lululemon and the energy sector stand out
Amid the prevailing gloom, a few stocks have emerged positively. Lululemon Athletica jumped 3.84% to $165.39, benefiting from a better-than-expected quarterly report. The sportswear manufacturer revealed fourth-quarter results that exceeded expectations, even as its 2026 outlook remains cautious, marking the strongest rise on the tech index. Constellation Energy followed with a gain of 3.10% to $317.22, boosted by the energy sector. Semiconductors also saw some support: Intel climbed 2.20% to $45.03, AMD rose 1.60% to $199.46, while Arm Holdings and CrowdStrike advanced by 0.82% and 0.60%, respectively. Cloud and defensive tech specialists, such as Datadog (+1.85% to $131.26) and DexCom (+0.51% to $67.66), also managed to limit the downturn.
MicroStrategy Drags Down the Crypto-Exposed Sector
Conversely, MicroStrategy Inc. experienced the day's largest drop, plunging 6.47% to $140.56. The corporate bitcoin specialist, rebranded as Strategy, continues to bear the brunt of cryptocurrency market volatility and concerns surrounding its debt strategy to accumulate digital assets. Telecommunications and consumer stocks also suffered: Charter Communications fell 6.08% to $209, while The Trade Desk declined 6.06% to $23.55. Starbucks decreased by 5.03% to $92.66, Comcast by 5.02% to $28.57, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 4.65% to $96.08. Monster Beverage (-4.51%), Cintas (-3.84%), AppLovin Corp (-3.60%), and Kraft Heinz (-3.54%) rounded out the list of the steepest declines.
A session highlighting divisions in the tech market
The March 18 close highlights the Nasdaq's struggle to find a clear direction in an uncertain market environment. At 24,425.09 points, the index is characterized by sectoral disparity: crypto-sensitive stocks and consumer goods players are under pressure, while defensive industrial and tech giants continue to attract capital flows. Investors remain focused on macroeconomic developments and upcoming catalysts to rebuild a more consistent momentum.
This content has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence. While we strive for accuracy, some nuances may differ from the original French version.
