US stock: S&P 500 ends lower as investors weigh data, Middle East tensions
The S&P 500 closed lower on Friday, dipping from a record high and weighed down by Applied Materials, while investors digested weaker-than-expected retail sales data. Applied Materials fell after its upbeat quarterly forecast failed to impress investors. The chip equipment maker's shares have doubled in 2026 due to strong demand related to the buildout of AI data centers.With investors nervous about high valuations of AI-related stocks that have soared in recent years, chipmakers includ…


