International Business Machines (IBM) shares surged 5.02% during Tuesday's intraday trading session, joining a broad rally across software and IT consulting names as concerns over AI chip spending and rising competition prompted a market rotation away from high-flying semiconductor stocks.
The advance was driven by a powerful upswing in the IT consulting sector, with peers such as Accenture and Cognizant posting strong gains that created positive momentum. IBM's move also reflects a technical rebound following its recent post-earnings decline, after management indicated that roughly one-third of deals that slipped in the second quarter have already closed and reaffirmed its full-year free cash flow growth target. Additionally, the company secured a NT$324 million contract with Chang Hwa Commercial Bank to upgrade its corporate online banking platform, while broker Susquehanna described Circle Internet Group's acquisition of IBM's blockchain patent portfolio as a potentially meaningful strategic development.