What did Sridhar Vembu say about Big Tech and why is it relevant now?

Sridhar Vembu compared platform power to the East India Company, arguing Big Tech now borrows and operates at near-sovereign scale. After Alphabet’s $32 billion raise with a 100-year bond, funding is deep and cheap. That supports AI capex and buybacks, but can trigger stronger regulation. Indian investors should weigh both durability and policy risk in allocations.

How does Alphabet’s century bond affect NASDAQ-100 exposure?

A century bond signals investor trust in long-term cash flows. For NASDAQ-100, it suggests mega-caps can keep funding AI infrastructure and buybacks through cycles, supporting index earnings quality. The flip side is duration and rate risk. If yields rise or spreads widen, valuations can compress. Maintain discipline on position size and entry levels.

What do today’s NASDAQ-100 technicals say?

The index is at 24,732.73, up 0.18%, below its 50-day but above its 200-day average. RSI at 40.44 and negative MACD show weak momentum, while price near the lower Bollinger Band can draw dip buyers. Use the 50-day and lower band as near guides, and respect ATR-driven volatility when placing stops.

How should Indian investors manage currency risk with U.S. tech exposure?

USD/INR swings can boost or dent returns. Consider partial hedges where available, staggered buying via SIPs, and keeping a rupee cash buffer for rebalancing. Match your horizon with vehicle choice. Short-term trades may need tighter hedges, while long-term holdings can accept more FX variance if allocation size is contained.

What key data points should I track after Sridhar Vembu’s warning?

Watch buyback authorizations, net debt trends, capex-to-sales, and free cash flow yields for mega-caps. On the macro side, monitor rate expectations and credit spreads. Policy-wise, track antitrust cases and digital rules in the U.S., EU, and India. Align entries with technical levels and avoid concentration in any single platform.

Global Market Insights

^NDX Today, February 16: Vembu’s East India Co. Warning on Big Tech Debt

ByDanny Kontos February 16, 2026

Sridhar Vembu put Big Tech debt in focus by comparing platform power to the East India Company. After Alphabet’s $32 billion, multi-currency raise that included a rare 100-year bond, access to cash looks more like a sovereign than a company. For Indian investors tracking the NASDAQ-100, this matters. It supports long capex cycles and buybacks, yet can invite stronger regulators. We explain what Vembu’s warning means for today’s positioning and risk in ^NDX.