--- title: "Microsoft Soars 17% on Azure Beat, Igniting AI & Chip Rally; Nasdaq Jumps Over 3%" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/294410905.md" description: "Nasdaq surged over 3% as Microsoft's 43% Azure revenue growth sparked an AI and semiconductor rally. Meta plunged 9.2% after free cash flow collapsed 91%. Philly Semiconductor Index jumped over 6.4%." datetime: "2026-07-30T20:23:52.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/294410905.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294410905.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/294410905.md) --- # Microsoft Soars 17% on Azure Beat, Igniting AI & Chip Rally; Nasdaq Jumps Over 3% U.S. stocks closed sharply higher on July 30, with tech leading a broad rally as the Nasdaq surged over **3%**. The Nasdaq 100 rallied **3.1%**, the S&P 500 added roughly 1.5%, and the Dow edged modestly higher. Microsoft delivered a clean beat across the board, with Azure cloud revenue soaring 43% year-over-year, igniting a sector-wide explosion in AI and semiconductor names. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged over **6.4%**. The 30-year Treasury yield hit a 19-year high but failed to derail the tech rebound. AI plays and chip stocks dominated the session. Microsoft skyrocketed more than 17% in its best single-day performance since March 2020, while Nvidia, TSMC, and Broadcom all posted outsized gains. The cloud computing space rode the coattails, with Oracle up over 7% and Nebius vaulting more than 26%. On the flip side, Meta cratered over 9% after free cash flow plunged 91% and Q3 guidance missed Wall Street estimates, making it the biggest loser among mega-cap tech. Fintech name MarketAxess surged 30% on acquisition news, while storage chip maker SanDisk jumped over 24%. **Microsoft Crushes Estimates, Surges Over 17%** Microsoft (MSFT) closed at $449.09, up **17.17%**, after touching an intraday high of $451.35 — its largest single-day gain since March 2020. Azure revenue accelerated 43% year-over-year, smashing the Street's 35% forecast and serving as the rally's core catalyst. CEO Satya Nadella said on the earnings call that "every model is replaceable," emphasizing the company's shift toward a multi-model AI platform strategy where the software layer is decoupled from foundation models to ensure business continuity. Microsoft also clarified that a purported $15 billion capex cut was merely an accounting adjustment — extending data center useful life from 15 to 25 years and reclassifying more leases as operating leases, with actual investment levels unchanged. CFO Amy Hood confirmed fiscal 2027 capex will grow year-over-year, driven primarily by AI demand. **Semiconductor Sector Erupts; SanDisk Up Over 24%** SanDisk (SNDK) surged **24%** to lead the memory chip space. TSMC (TSM) climbed **7.36%** to $392.49, with the company's vice president disclosing a $73,800 purchase of 1,015 shares, signaling internal confidence. Broadcom and AMD rallied in sympathy. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index posted a gain of over 6.4%. Microsoft's blistering Azure growth validated sustained demand for high-end AI inference chips, while hedge fund Situational Awareness's liquidation was framed by Jim Cramer as a "cleansing event" for the AI trade — reverse positioning unwound during deleveraging, further fueling the chip rebound. AI infrastructure names including Micron Technology also drew renewed buying interest. **Meta Free Cash Flow Collapses 91%, Tumbles Over 9%** Meta (META) sank **9.2%**, the worst performer among tech giants. Free cash flow collapsed 91% to just $784 million, crushed by massive AI infrastructure capex. Investors reacted negatively to a lack of clarity on AI agent monetization and Q3 revenue guidance that fell short of Wall Street expectations. Multiple analysts trimmed price targets citing uncertain AI returns. In stark contrast, Microsoft demonstrated tangible AI monetization with 43% cloud growth, and market capital is rapidly rotating from "cash-burning storytellers" toward AI names with verified revenue. The divergence between Microsoft and Meta was the session's most pronounced structural signal. **Cloud & Software Sector Splits; Oracle Up Over 7%** Oracle (ORCL) rose **7.39%** on turnover of $33.27 billion. Nebius (NBIS) soared **26.18%** with a massive $62.52 billion in volume. Palo Alto Networks (PANW) added **3.33%**, lifting its market cap to $2,645 billion. Bucking the trend, ServiceNow (NOW) dropped **4.87%** on $22.77 billion in volume, standing out as a cloud laggard. MarketAxess (MKTX) exploded **30%** on acquisition news, decoupling entirely from sector dynamics. **Macro Backdrop: September Rate Hike Odds Rise to 65%** On the macro front, Macquarie Group flagged that a Fed rate hike could come as early as September — earlier than the firm's prior December estimate — as support for tighter policy grows within the central bank. Three regional Fed bank presidents recently voted for rate increases, and the CME FedWatch Tool shows September hike probability climbing to **65%**. The day's GDP report signaled slowing growth alongside moderating PCE inflation, though 30-year Treasury yields still notched a 19-year high. Amazon reports Q2 results after the close, with analysts projecting EPS of $1.82 on revenue of $196.47 billion; AWS growth and the company's $200 billion capex plan will be in sharp focus. **Top 10 by Turnover** Microsoft (MSFT) $449.09, +17.17%, ~$420B volume Nvidia (NVDA) +over 5%, ~$280B volume Apple (AAPL) ~+1%, ~$190B volume Meta (META) -9.2%, ~$175B volume Tesla (TSLA) ~+1.5%, ~$145B volume Nebius (NBIS) +26.18%, $62.52B volume Amazon (AMZN) ~+1%, ~$80B volume TSMC (TSM) $392.49, +7.36%, ~$72B volume Alphabet-A (GOOGL) $335, ~+2%, ~$68B volume Oracle (ORCL) +7.39%, $33.27B volume ### Related Stocks - [MSFT.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MSFT.US.md) - [META.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/META.US.md) - [SNDK.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SNDK.US.md) - [MKTX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MKTX.US.md) - [NBIS.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NBIS.US.md) - [ORCL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ORCL.US.md) - [NOW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NOW.US.md) - [PANW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PANW.US.md) - [TSM.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSM.US.md) - [GOOGL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOGL.US.md) - [AMZN.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AMZN.US.md) - [NVDA.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NVDA.US.md) - [AAPL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPL.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Meta's future AI data center lease obligations swell to over a quarter trillion dollars](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294389887.md) - [Corning Landed Apple, Meta, Nvidia and Amazon in Six Months. 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