Deutsche Bank strategists report that renewed concerns over Chinese competition and AI investment spending triggered a sharp selloff in global semiconductor stocks. Asian technology indices suffered heavy losses, while ASML and other chip-related shares declined in the United States and Europe. Broader equity markets were more resilient, however, with most S&P 500 constituents ending the session higher.

China competition pressures global chip stocks

"Tech concerns have been the dominant driver in Asia this morning as renewed worries over AI investment spending, and competition from cheaper Chinese companies, have triggered another selloff in global semiconductor stocks. The KOSPI (-10.11%) is the worst-performing index, heading for its steepest decline since early March during the onset of the US-Iran conflict with the sharp drop also prompting circuit-breaker measures earlier in the session.”

"The benchmark is being weighed down by major chipmakers, with SK Hynix falling as much as -13% and Samsung Electronics declining around -12%. Additionally, the Nikkei (-4.10%) is also seeing sharp losses, falling to its weakest level since May 22 with Kioxia Holdings down another -18% and now roughly -60% lower from its peak in late June."

"Elsewhere overnight, the CSI 300 (-2.12%) and Shanghai Composite (-0.90%) are also lower but we have seen CXMT Corp.’s blockbuster debut in Shanghai over the last 24 hours. Their shares surged a stunning +466% after the IPO yesterday."

"After rallying at the open on the retreat in oil prices, US equities whipsawed lower after chip stocks sold off. The catalyst was chip-equipment manufacturer ASML (-8.41%), whose shares fell after the Information reported that a Chinese company had successfully started mass production of deep ultraviolet lithography machines needed to create advanced semiconductors."

"The news led to a decline across other chip-equipment peers, with the Philly Semi Stock Exchange Index down -2.23% yesterday. Nvidia (-4.99%) shares also fell after it was revealed that the company was working on AI deals worth more than $750bn, renewing investor worries on circular AI financing."

"The broader equity mood music was better, however, with nearly two-thirds of the S&P 500 higher on the day and the small cap Russell 2000 up +0.62%. And in Europe, indices including the DAX (+1.04%), CAC 40 (+0.40%) and FTSE 100 (+0.42%) saw decent gains, although the Stoxx 600 (+0.02%) was dragged down by ASML and other semi companies."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)