Alphabet leads tech stocks but retreats 0.5% premarket despite AI hiring sentiment
Alphabet stock posts three-day win streak amid AI hiring boost
Alphabet Inc. [GOOGL] stock posted its third consecutive bullish close on Friday, marking the first three-day winning streak this July.
The stock gained 1.6% on the day to settle at $180.2, outperforming major tech peers such as Microsoft, Nvidia and Meta, which ended the day with mild gains.
Highlights
-Alphabet holds near $179 today after Friday’s surge briefly pierced $181 resistance
-Today’s premarket pullback reflects short-term profit taking, but bullish bias remains intact
-RSI at 60 supports a potential push toward $186 once $181 resistance is decisively cleared
This outperformance was partly driven by market reaction to Google's acquisition of key AI talent. The hire of Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and several R&D experts into Google DeepMind sparked optimism about Alphabet’s ability to strengthen its position in the artificial intelligence race.
GOOGL stock price dynamics (May 2024 - July 2025). Source: TradingView
Friday’s move briefly pierced the longstanding double top resistance at $181, a level that had previously capped rallies twice in June. However, despite the strong daily performance, the stock closed just below this resistance. As a result, the $181 level continues to act as a technical ceiling, holding Alphabet’s stock within a two-week range bounded by $173 and $181.
GOOGL stock RSI at 60 backs bullish tone despite early premarket dip
Heading into Monday, July 14, GOOGL stock declined by 0.5% in premarket trading, pulling back to around $179.1. While this early weakness suggests some near-term selling pressure, it is likely a retracement following Friday’s rally. The AI-related hiring news has not faded from market attention, and the strength shown last week indicates that investor appetite for the stock remains strong. If regular trading session sentiment follows the momentum from Friday, GOOGL may be positioned for a fourth consecutive day of gains, potentially challenging and decisively breaking through the $181 resistance.
Technical indicators support this outlook. The RSI on multiple timeframes has moved above the 14-day average and currently reads 60. This is not in overbought territory and aligns with a bullish continuation bias. Furthermore, the broader trend over the last three months has been upward, reinforcing the possibility of an extension toward the next resistance level at $186, once the $181 ceiling is cleared.
Until that breakout materializes, the stock remains trapped within the same trading range that has defined its movement over the past two weeks. Support sits at $173, while resistance continues to hold at $181. Investors will be closely watching for a breakout to confirm whether Alphabet’s bullish structure can resume in the short term, supported by fresh AI-driven sentiment and broader institutional interest.
Alphabet faced selling pressure due to antitrust risks and weak AI momentum. The stock failed to break above $181 and reversed lower after rejecting the 20-day EMA.
