SK Hynix shares plunge 11% as Asia tech stocks follow U.S. chip sell-off
Semiconductor losses spread from U.S. to Asia, SK Hynix leads declines
1Tech stocks tumble across Asia
Asian semiconductor stocks saw sharp declines on Wednesday. SK Hynix shares dropped 11% while Samsung Electronics fell 7%. In Japan, AI-related companies like Advantest and SoftBank Group lost 5-7% as the tech rout spread across the region.
2U.S. sell-off spills into Asia
The Asian declines followed losses in U.S. chipmakers like Micron and Intel in the previous session. Micron fell 8% while Intel lost over 4%. Analysts attribute this movement to profit-taking across the global tech sector amid growing AI spending concerns.
3SK Hynix volatility continues
SK Hynix shares have shown high volatility since its U.S. listing last week. The stock recorded its steepest one-day drop on Monday, then erased the previous session's 8% gain on Wednesday. Concerns about AI spending are driving profit-taking behavior among investors.
4Data center moratorium impact
New York Governor Kathy Hochul's temporary moratorium on large-scale data center projects and reports of CoreWeave exploring hedges against memory price declines were seen as negative signals. However, experts emphasize structural demand for AI infrastructure remains strong.
5Structural strength in chips
Analysts note demand for high-bandwidth memory chips continues to outstrip supply, allowing leaders like SK Hynix and Micron to maintain pricing power. ASML raising its revenue guidance for the second time this year also points to strong industry fundamentals.
6Sustainability concerns
Experts warn that semiconductors now making up 20% of the S&P 500 may be unsustainable - during the dot-com bubble they were just 8%. While earnings momentum remains robust, lofty valuations may face reassessment as growth rates normalize.