Stock Market Today (Oct. 29, 2026): S&P 500 falls on Alphabet earnings miss
Alphabet (GOOG) shares fell 10.19% premarket after missing earnings expectations, while Microsoft (MSFT) rose 2.61% on strong Azure growth. The S&P 500 declined as investors reacted to mixed Big Tech earnings and the Fed's rate decision.
How this was made

The 30-second read
Why it matters
Alphabet’s miss drives a broad sell‑off in AI‑related stocks, while Microsoft’s beat provides a rally point for cloud‑focused equities.
Market read
The contrasting earnings outcomes create immediate trading opportunities and sector‑wide sentiment shifts.
What to watch
Potential cost‑cutting measures or upcoming product launches could mitigate the impact of the earnings miss.
Background
The article is a live market blog covering the immediate reaction to two major tech earnings releases on the same day.
Ticker impact
Alphabet reported a 10.19% pre‑market drop after missing revenue and profit expectations and posting negative free cash flow.
likely pressure as the market prices in the earnings miss and slower ad growth.
The earnings miss is a fresh, material disclosure for a large‑cap stock with a double‑digit move, prompting immediate trader reaction.
Microsoft posted earnings beat, driven by 48% Azure growth, sending its shares up 2.61% in pre‑market trading.
likely support as investors reward the cloud growth and earnings beat.
The beat is a fresh, material event for a large‑cap stock, providing a clear catalyst for short‑term buying.
Market effects
AI‑related ad spending scrutiny may weigh on other tech and ad‑revenue companies.
U.S. equity markets likely dip on Alphabet weakness, while cloud‑focused stocks could benefit from Microsoft’s beat.
The divergent earnings outcomes highlight sector‑wide uncertainty around AI investment returns.
Counterpoint
Alphabet’s long‑term AI positioning may still justify buying on the dip despite the short‑term miss.
Key entities
- companyAlphabet Inc.
Search and AI giant reporting earnings miss.
- companyMicrosoft Corp.
Software and cloud leader reporting earnings beat.


