New York, March 7, 2026, 14:09 EST — Market closed

Microsoft shares settled at $408.96 on Friday, ticking down 0.4% after edging lower in the last session. The stock remains close to $409 as the company moves into next week, with investors parsing renewed signals of AI demand while the broader macro picture turned gloomier toward week’s end.

Timing is critical here. Microsoft’s January earnings reignited questions about how fast its massive AI investment will start showing up in Azure’s numbers and Copilot’s top line. But the real macro flashpoint is coming up Wednesday, when the February consumer price index drops. Reuters

The mood from Friday lingered. The Nasdaq shed 1.59% after February’s payrolls came…