U.S. Stocks Trend (June 24): Korean Stock Plunge Ripples Global Chip Sector, Micron Tumbles Over 10%, Long-Term Supply Certainty Faces a 'Hard Test'
US Stock Market Trend (June 24): South Korean Market Plunge Disrupts Global Chips, Micron Drops Over 10%, Long-Term Supply Certainty Faces Hard Test
On Monday, the South Korean KOSPI index plunged 10%, with SK Hynix and Samsung dropping over 12%, triggered by rumors that SK Hynix might slow its HBM4 production expansion. This shock quickly spread to the U.S. semiconductor sector. Micron plummeted 13.18% to $1,051.77, SanDisk fell 13.64%, and Marvell declined 8%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index closed down 7.87%, while the Nasdaq fell 2.21% to 25,587.04 points. The sell-off particularly hit memory chip stocks.
Defensive sectors showed relative resilience, with gains in stocks like IBM and Johnson & Johnson. Market volatility spiked, with the VIX index jumping 12.79%. Commodities weakened, with WTI crude oil hitting a near three-month low and gold falling below $4,100.
The core issue is not a challenge to AI demand itself, but a market reassessment of overly optimistic capacity expectations for memory chips, especially HBM. The rumor about SK Hynix undermined perceived certainty in the AI infrastructure cycle. Key upcoming events include Thursday's PCE inflation data, which will influence Fed rate expectations, and Micron's earnings report. The market will focus on Micron's HBM gross margins and its long-term capacity guidance.
The shift indicates the AI investment cycle is moving from euphoria to rational pricing. Large institutions are questioning the sustainability of AI-related capital expenditure growth. Micron's repricing from an "AI infrastructure staple" to a more cyclical stock highlights this change. Thursday's data and earnings represent a critical juncture for assessing long-term supply certainty, which has now significantly decreased.
marsbit06/24 01:28