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Chipmakers Surge on Optimism Fueled by AI Demand

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Shares of chipmakers saw significant gains on Monday, driven by optimism surrounding strong AI-driven demand. Microsoft’s plan to invest $80 billion in AI-enabled data centers in fiscal 2025 sparked expectations that semiconductor demand will remain robust. Micron (MU.O) led the charge with a 10.6% rise in its stock, while other key players like Applied Materials (AMAT.O), Lam Research (LRCX.O), and KLA Corp (KLAC.O) saw increases between 5.1% and 5.5%.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (.SOX) surged 3.9%, reaching its highest point since mid-October, and has risen over 19% in 2024. The broader Nasdaq (.IXIC) also advanced, leading Wall Street’s major indexes higher, while semiconductor stocks in Europe and South Korea saw similar gains.

Citigroup noted that while Microsoft’s spending plan was in line with analysts’ expectations, it was seen as a “modest positive” for the sector, alleviating concerns about a potential drop in capital expenditure.

“AI data centers are very chip hungry, that’s why you have people running towards the chip sector right now,” said Michael Matousek, head trader at U.S. Global Investors.

The strong demand for AI servers, evidenced by Foxconn’s (2317.TW) record revenue for Q4, further fueled the sector’s positive momentum. Nvidia (NVDA.O), a key Foxconn customer, added 5.1%, with CEO Jensen Huang scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the CES trade show later in the day. AI server manufacturer Super Micro Computer (SMCI.O) saw a 10.3% surge.

Although Nvidia’s quarterly results in November pointed to a slowdown in revenue growth, the surge in demand for the company’s AI chips, which dominate the market, has mitigated those concerns.

 

SK Hynix Spurs Rally in Asian Semiconductor Stocks with Mass Production of Advanced AI Chip

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SK Hynix shares surged by over 9% on Thursday after the South Korean chipmaker announced the mass production of a new high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chip designed for AI applications. The company revealed that the HBM3E chip, the first 12-layer version of its kind, will be ready for delivery by the end of the year. This updated chip boasts a 36 GB capacity, marking a 50% increase from the previous 8-layer version, all while maintaining the same physical thickness.

SK Hynix has positioned itself as a key player in the AI memory chip market, supplying HBM chips to major tech firms like Nvidia. With the new 12-layer HBM3E chip, the company seeks to solidify its dominance in the space, offering advanced solutions for high-end generative AI workloads.

HBM chips are dynamic random access memory (DRAM) components that are stacked vertically, allowing for more compact designs and reduced power consumption. The global HBM market is currently dominated by SK Hynix, Micron Technology, and Samsung Electronics.

Micron Technology also made headlines by issuing better-than-expected revenue and profit forecasts for its fiscal first quarter, citing strong demand for HBM chips. Micron expects $8.7 billion in revenue and profits of $1.74 per share, surpassing market estimates. This positive outlook, coupled with SK Hynix’s announcement, led to a rally in Asian semiconductor stocks.

In Japan, Tokyo Electron’s shares rose 7%, and Advantest climbed 5%, while Samsung Electronics saw a 3% gain. The South Korean Kospi index also responded positively, increasing by 2% as the sector benefitted from these developments.