US stocks today: Nasdaq slides over 1% as Alphabet's AI spending revives investor concerns

The Nasdaq Composite dropped over 1% as Alphabet reported disappointing advertising results. The downturn was worsened by software stocks, which fell following Fortinet and ServiceNow's unfavorable quarterly performances. Rising AI spending concerns and inflation data also impacted investor sentiment. On a brighter note, Eli Lilly's shares surged due to strong revenue forecasts, while Caterpillar faced declines as it kept its annual sales forecast steady.