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Yahoo Finance AIPublished: Jul 2, 2026, 06:00 JST1 min read

Microsoft stock rises as investors shift back to AI software

Microsoft stock rises as investors shift back to AI software

Key takeaway

  • Microsoft stock jumped 3% Wednesday as investors rotated capital from AI chip stocks into AI software names.

  • The company also announced a five-year partnership with Haleon to expand its Microsoft 365 Copilot and analytics tools.

  • Although Microsoft has faced competitive concerns around Copilot, landing major enterprise deals like this one underscores the strength of its software market position and could benefit the stock if broader investor interest in AI software recovers.

3 Key Points

  1. What happened

    Microsoft stock closed up 3% on Wednesday as investors rotated out of AI chip stocks and into AI software plays. The company also announced a new five-year partnership with Haleon to expand AI and analytics capabilities across the healthcare company's business, including deeper integration of Microsoft 365 Copilot.

  2. Why it matters

    Microsoft stock has faced headwinds this year—it is still down roughly 20.5% year to date—partly due to concerns about Copilot's competitive positioning against offerings from Anthropic, OpenAI, and others. The Haleon deal demonstrates that Microsoft's enterprise software position remains strong, and a potential shift in investor preference back toward AI software stocks could power significant gains for the company.

  3. What to watch

    The partnership with Haleon is structured as a five-year deal. Whether today's trading pattern signals the start of a sustained rotation into AI software stocks remains uncertain; the article notes it is still too early to proclaim such a shift is underway.

Ask the AI about this article →

FAQ

What is the Haleon deal and how long does it last?
Haleon entered into a five-year partnership with Microsoft to expand AI and analytics capabilities across its business, including expanding integration of Microsoft 365 Copilot and other tools.
Why has Microsoft stock struggled this year?
Microsoft stock is down roughly 20.5% year to date partly due to concerns about Copilot's competitive positioning compared to rival offerings from Anthropic, OpenAI, and other AI leaders.
Yahoo Finance AIRead Original Article

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