The gist: Artificial intelligence has been one of the biggest forces driving stock markets higher. But on Thursday, investors got a reminder that enthusiasm has its limits.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq fell 2.6%, its sharpest decline since early June, while the S&P 500 dropped approximately 1.2%.

But here's the interesting part: nearly two-thirds of the stocks in the S&P 500 actually rose.

The problem was that some of the market's biggest technology companies fell so sharply that their losses outweighed gains elsewhere.

Semiconductor stocks were hit particularly hard, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index falling approximately 6%.

So what changed?

Investors are becoming increasingly concerned about how much money companies are spending on AI infrastructure and how quickly those investments will generate returns.

Meta's latest earnings illustrated that concern. Although revenue beat expectations, the company reported a cash outflow driven by heavy AI spending, and its shares fell approximately 7%.

Tesla also declined around 3% following its earnings report.

Meanwhile, oil prices jumped as the conflict involving Iran continued to unsettle global energy markets.

Why it matters: A company can report growing revenue and still disappoint investors if its future spending looks too high.

Stock prices don't just reflect how a business is performing today. They also reflect what investors expect it to achieve tomorrow.

And because the largest technology companies carry so much weight in major stock indexes, their movements can make the overall market look weaker than most individual stocks actually are.

Sometimes the biggest risk isn't that a company is doing badly. It's that everyone expects it to do extraordinarily well.

Go deeper: Associated Press: Tumbling AI stocks overwhelm markets worldwide as oil prices jump

The gist: Here's an economic indicator you probably haven't considered: how many paper towels restaurants are buying.

Swedish hygiene products company Essity, which owns the Tork brand of commercial paper towels and dispensers, says its American business is feeling the effects of consumers eating out less often.

When fewer people visit restaurants, businesses need fewer supplies, including paper towels, napkins and other hygiene products.

The company's professional hygiene division reported declines in sales, volumes and prices during the third quarter. The United States accounts for approximately 40% of the division's revenue, making changes in American consumer behaviour particularly important.

And the broader numbers help explain why.

According to a Gallup survey cited by Reuters, the proportion of Americans who eat at restaurants at least once a week has fallen from 53% in 2019 to 39% in 2026.

Higher everyday prices and a slowing job market are making consumers more cautious about discretionary spending.

Of course, fewer restaurant visits aren't the only reason for Essity's weaker performance. Lower selling prices and rising costs are also affecting the business.

Why it matters: We often measure the economy through stock markets, inflation figures and employment reports.

But changes in everyday behaviour can reveal just as much.

When households cut back on dining out, the effects ripple beyond restaurants to suppliers, distributors and other businesses that depend on customer traffic.

It's a reminder that consumer spending isn't just about what people buy. It's also about what they quietly stop doing.

Sometimes the economy shows up in the most ordinary places, including a restaurant bathroom.

Go deeper: Reuters: As Americans eat out less, paper towel maker Essity feels the pinch

The gist: We tend to think of honeybees as the heroes of the natural world, helping flowers grow and keeping ecosystems healthy.

But new research suggests they can also be surprisingly aggressive toward other pollinators.

Scientists from Anglia Ruskin University in England observed bees and other insects visiting flowers at five locations around Cambridge over two years.

They found that honeybees frequently displaced competing insects, including bumblebees, solitary bees and hoverflies, from valuable feeding spots.

In some encounters, honeybees physically pushed or chased other insects away from flowers.

One striking finding: on bramble flowers, doubling honeybee density was associated with a 14% decrease in bumblebee abundance.

And as temperatures rose, competition between pollinators tended to increase.

There are some important limitations. All five study locations were within 300 metres of known honeybee colonies, and the findings show associations rather than proving that honeybees directly caused the decline in other pollinators.

Why it matters: Honeybees are important pollinators, but they're not the only ones.

Wild bees, hoverflies and other insects also play essential roles in ecosystems, and some may struggle when large numbers of managed honeybees compete for the same flowers.

The researchers aren't suggesting that people should stop keeping bees. Instead, they want to better understand how managed and wild pollinators can coexist.

It's also a reminder that helping nature isn't always as simple as increasing the number of one beneficial species.

Apparently, even the world of flowers has some serious competition.

Go deeper: Anglia Ruskin University: Honeybees exert flower power over other species

Fervour FUR-ver | noun

Definition: Intense enthusiasm, excitement or passion for something.

In a sentence: The announcement of the reunion tour sparked a level of fervour that surprised even longtime fans.

Why it's worth knowing: Fervour captures the kind of excitement that goes beyond simply being interested. It's especially useful when describing cultural phenomena, public enthusiasm or the energy surrounding a highly anticipated event.

When planning a holiday, a weekend away or even a day in a new city, it's tempting to organize every detail.

But there's a better middle ground.

Plan the first hour really well.

Choose where you'll get coffee after arriving, the first neighbourhood you'll explore or a restaurant you've been excited to try.

Then leave some of the rest open.

Having a specific first experience gives you something concrete to anticipate without turning the entire trip into a schedule you have to follow.

It also removes that slightly disappointing moment when you arrive somewhere exciting and spend the first hour figuring out what to do.

The same idea works for ordinary weekends. You don't need a full itinerary. Just one plan you're genuinely excited about.

A good beginning can make the whole experience feel more inviting.

COPY AND PASTE:

I want to plan a memorable experience for [MYSELF / A FRIEND / MY PARTNER / A GROUP].

My budget is [AMOUNT], my location is [CITY OR AREA], and I have [AMOUNT OF TIME] available.

Our interests include [INTERESTS], but I'd also like a few ideas outside our usual routine.

Suggest seven experiences at different levels of effort.

Prioritize originality, atmosphere and opportunities to make a good memory over expensive activities.

For each idea, include an estimated budget, what makes it special and one small detail that would elevate the experience.

Avoid generic suggestions unless you can give them an interesting twist. Don't invent specific businesses, prices or opening hours.

One thing you didn’t know you wanted to know.

Here's a good reason to book a holiday in advance: part of the enjoyment may happen before you even leave.

In a 2010 study published in Applied Research in Quality of Life, researchers examined the relationship between vacations and happiness among Dutch adults.

They found that people who were about to go on vacation reported higher levels of happiness than those without an upcoming trip.

Interestingly, the happiness boost after returning wasn't as lasting for most vacationers. Those who described their trips as particularly relaxing experienced a longer-lasting benefit.

The findings suggest that anticipation may be an important part of the pleasure we get from travel.

Of course, the study doesn't prove that booking a trip automatically makes everyone happier. But it offers an interesting explanation for why browsing hotels and imagining your itinerary can feel so satisfying.

Sometimes the vacation starts long before you pack your suitcase.

Go deeper: Vacationers Happier, but Most Not Happier After a Holiday — Applied Research in Quality of Life