Spooked investors sink Big Tech stocks

Big Tech firms saw major stock market slides this week. Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Intel all dropped, following less-than-stellar earnings reports. Cracks are showing in the tech biz, and they aren’t all related to AI. Is this the beginning of an AI bubble burst? We’ll explain. Plus: How companies decide whether to offer buyouts or do traditional layoffs, what it’s like to go back to school in your 40s, and where new affordable EVs are available (hint: outside the U.S.)

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe (marketplace.org/newsletters) to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment (marketplace.org/make-a-smart-investment) in our future.

Read the stories in today’s episode:

• Don't let this economy give you a fright (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/30/prices-are-up…)
• Inside Big Tech companies' big slump this week (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/30/inside-big-te…)
• She loved bartending. Then she decided to head back to school (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/30/she-loved-bar…)
• Why companies offer buyouts versus layoffs (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/30/what-are-the-…)
• To test drive affordable EVs, he took a trip to CDMX (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/30/to-test-drive…)