Asian chip stocks rally as Super Micro forecast revives AI demand optimism

Asian chipmakers and AI-related stocks experienced a rally on Wednesday following Super Micro Computer's stronger-than-expected preliminary revenue guidance. This provided relief to investors worried about the sustainability of spending on AI infrastructure. The KOSPI in South Korea jumped 4.6% to 5,805.63, while Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.7% to 65,162.

Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kioxia Holdings, TDK, and Murata Manufacturing all saw gains in their respective markets. Super Micro forecasted revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 between $18.5 billion and $19.5 billion, significantly higher than previous estimates of $14.5 billion to $15.5 billion. The company also raised its preliminary gross margin outlook to 12%-12.5%, up from the previous range of 10.4%-10.8%.

These optimistic figures indicate that demand for AI infrastructure remains robust. Super Micro, which assembles servers with processors and accelerators from Nvidia and AMD, is viewed as a useful indicator of demand for data-center hardware. The positive news came after a sell-off in technology stocks last week, driven by rising bond yields and concerns over the cost of financing AI infrastructure.

Investors are now watching for further evidence of sustainable revenue and profitability in upcoming technology earnings reports.