Asian technology and semiconductor shares rose on Wednesday as hopes of a ceasefire between the US and Iran, along with a possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The move reflected a broader relief trade after President Donald Trump said he would delay any military action against Iran, while negotiations continued over conditions tied to shipping access through Hormuz.
For investors, the prospect of fewer disruptions to energy flows and industrial supply chains was enough to trigger a rebound in chipmakers, whose margins remain highly sensitive to logistics costs and input prices.
Chipmakers lead the rebound
SK Hynix rose as much as 15%, while Samsung Electronics also gained after Samsung projected a more than eightfold jump in first-quarter operating profit, beating market expectations.
Samsung said booming demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure had created supply bottlenecks and driven chip prices higher, reinforcing optimism around the memory cycle.
That signal mattered beyond Samsung itself.
Investors have increasingly treated the company’s guidance as a read-through for the wider semiconductor complex, particularly in Asia, where producers are closely tied to demand for data-centre and server memory.
A more stable energy backdrop only added to the appeal, especially for manufacturers already benefiting from tighter supply and firm pricing.
Why Hormuz matters
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the market’s calculus because roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply moves through the waterway.
Any sign that traffic may resume more normally tends to cool crude prices, easing one of the biggest immediate risks to manufacturers with high energy consumption and globally fragmented supply chains.
That is particularly relevant for semiconductor producers.
Chip fabrication depends on uninterrupted access to power, specialised tools and industrial gases, and analysts have warned that a prolonged conflict could strain supplies of helium, a key input in semiconductor manufacturing.
Qatar accounted for more than 30% of the helium market in 2025, according to S&P Global cited by CNBC, meaning disruptions linked to the regional conflict carry direct implications for chip output.
Oil and margins
Oil prices eased as traders pared back the risk of an immediate supply shock, helping improve the tone for equities across the region.
Lower crude prices are especially supportive for chipmakers because they reduce pressure on transport, utilities and upstream materials at a time when customers are demanding ever more advanced and energy-intensive computing infrastructure.
The market response also suggested investors were willing to look through near-term geopolitical noise if the worst-case scenario for shipping disruption could be avoided.
That helped technology stocks outperform as traders rotated back into sectors most exposed to an AI-led recovery in capital spending.
What to watch
The next move will depend on whether ceasefire discussions translate into a durable easing of tensions and whether Hormuz remains open long enough to stabilise commodity and freight markets.
Investors will also be watching for further comments from chipmakers on pricing, inventories and supply security.
For now, the market is betting that lower oil, firmer memory pricing and resilient AI demand can outweigh the geopolitical overhang.
That combination has given Asian semiconductor shares a fresh lift, even as traders remain alert to any setback in negotiations or renewed disruption across the Gulf.
LONDON | Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:01am EDT
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