Written by: Zhang Yaqi
Source: Wallstreetcn
ARK Invest CEO "Wood Sister" Cathie Wood has warned that as interest rates may start to rise next year, the market will face a "chilling" correction, and valuations in the artificial intelligence sector will undergo a "reality check."
On Tuesday, during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, she stated that she expects the market's focus of discussion to shift from rate cuts to rate hikes within the next year. This shift could trigger a dramatic market reaction.
Although Wood warned of short-term correction risks, she explicitly refuted claims of an AI bubble. She believes that in the long run, the valuations of large tech companies are reasonable, as the world is at the beginning of a technological revolution driven by AI.
Wood's remarks come at a time when major global financial institutions are increasingly concerned about the high valuations of tech stocks. Earlier this month, both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank of England warned that if investor enthusiasm for AI cools, global stock markets could face trouble.
The Market Will Face a "Reality Check"
Wood elaborated on her views regarding short-term market risks. She predicts that with changes in the interest rate environment next year, the market will experience a "tremor."
"At some point next year, we will see the market's focus shift from rate cuts to rate hikes," Wood said. She pointed out that although many believe innovation is negatively correlated with interest rates, historical data does not support this view. She hopes to "dispel this notion among people."
However, Wood added that considering "the way today's algorithms operate," the upward trend in interest rates could still trigger what she calls a "reality check." This statement comes as companies and investors are pouring huge sums into the tech sector, raising concerns about overvaluation.
Refusing to Admit an "AI Bubble"
Despite warning of short-term risks, Wood remains firmly bullish on the long-term prospects of AI and denies the existence of a bubble.
"I don't think AI is in a bubble," Wood responded directly when asked about the issue. She believes this is just "the beginning of a technological revolution." She acknowledges that the market may see a pullback, as many worry "whether all this is too much, too fast," but she believes that in the long run, the valuations of large tech companies will be reasonable.
Wood also pointed out that it takes time for enterprises to embrace and transform with AI. "Large enterprises need time to prepare for transformation," she added:
"It requires companies like Palantir to enter large enterprises and truly restructure them in order to fully realize the productivity gains we believe AI will unleash."
Wood's views echo the recent cautious attitudes of several regulators and business leaders. Earlier this month, IMF President Kristalina Georgieva advised:
"Fasten your seatbelts: uncertainty is the new normal, and it will persist."
In addition to the IMF and the Bank of England, several well-known figures, including OpenAI's Sam Altman, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, have also expressed concerns about the risk of a stock market correction due to surging AI spending.
