Citigroup warns AI slowdown could pressure stock market gains
Optimism (OP)
Editor:
Eugene Serbin
Cryptobriefing.com reports that Citigroup analysts are warning a slowdown in AI model development could pressure equity gains. The bank suggests this shift might trigger downward earnings revisions, which have been the engine of US stock performance through 2026. On September 13-14, AI-linked stocks including SoftBank and Intel sold off following comments from key industry leaders.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI’s Sam Altman both called for a more measured pace in AI development. Their unified stance introduced uncertainty into a market that had priced in relentless progress. Citigroup’s research spanning mid-2025 through 2026 highlights vulnerability to delays in AI productivity benefits.
The bank describes the current setup as a “boom” rather than a bubble. Strategists specifically flagged risks of multiple compression in software sectors with stretched valuations. The anticipated productivity improvements have been priced in with little room for disappointment. If gains do not materialize as expected, implications could extend beyond tech into broader indices.
How the market reacted
Whalio's own Binance spot order flow for OP, measured when this story was written up on 14 September 2026. Not the outlet's figures.
Optimism (OP) is currently trading at $0.09480 with a 1-hour buy ratio of 69.0% and a 4-hour ratio of 59.8%. These short-term figures are significantly higher than the 24-hour buy ratio of 54.3%, indicating that buying pressure is building in the immediate term. The Volume Delta shows net inflows of +$104,363 over the last hour and +$108,490 over the last four hours. This positive delta means that buy volume is exceeding sell volume, pushing the price upward. Over the full 24-hour period, the Volume Delta stands at +$214,627, confirming sustained net buying activity. The Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD) for the 24-hour close is +$242,551, reflecting consistent accumulation.
The latest daily buy ratio of 46.4% sits at the 5th percentile of the last 324 days, against a median of 50.1% - among the weakest buying days it has had.
Was that an ordinary day?
The same Binance spot measurements for OP, averaged over the days leading up to the story.
Over the preceding week, the 7-day average buy ratio was 49.4%, making today’s 24-hour ratio of 54.3% an unusual day with +4.9 points above average. However, the spot volume of $2,437,392 is only 0.39x the weekly average, suggesting lower participation despite the higher buy ratio. The coin has seen a price change of -14.0% over the last 8 days. Total Volume Delta for the week was -$185,299, contrasting with today’s positive inflows. Only 3 of the last 7 days saw net buying, making this a relatively uncommon day for sustained accumulation.