AI, IPOs and Retail Earnings Drive the Market Conversation 5/21/26

Michael Kantrowitz of Piper Sandler assesses the broader market backdrop and where leadership may emerge next. Retail earnings stay in focus: Chris Horvers of JPMorgan explains what recent reports reveal about the consumer and spending trends across the economy. Workday, Zoom, Deckers, Ross Stores and Take-Two Interactive all add fresh signals across software, retail and gaming. Our Kate Rooney reports on the next big private market story involving OpenAI while Alex Kantrowitz discusses AI policy, IPO dynamics and the latest developments across the sector. Ashok Bhatia of Neuberger Berman examines whether the debt fueling the AI boom could become a problem for bond markets.