Xeon server chips shown to CNBC inside Intel’s advanced packaging facility in Chandler, Arizona, on November 17, 2025.
CNBC
Asian technology and semiconductor stocks rose on Wednesday after the United States and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire that includes the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Major indexes in Asia soared on the news, led by semiconductor makers, which are highly sensitive to global trade flows and energy costs.
Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing companythe world’s largest contract chip maker, rose 4.84%. A major contract chip manufacturer in China, International Semiconductor Manufacturingup more than 10%.
Japanese semiconductor manufacturing equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron It rose by 9.6%. Advantest soared more than 13%, while Renesas Electronics,key Nvidia Suppliers, add 12%. electrical equipment company Fujikura It rose by 11.58%.
South Korean memory chip giant SK Hynix soared more than 15%, while Samsung Electronics also rose more than 9%. Samsung’s gains came after the company also predicted on Tuesday that first-quarter profits would jump eightfold due to a surge in AI demand for high-bandwidth memory chips used in data centers and servers.
Profits for major chip makers have soared this year on continued strong demand from the AI boom, but the Middle East conflict has raised serious concerns about global supply chains, particularly helium.
Semiconductor manufacturing uses helium’s cooling properties to transfer heat. This gas is also essential to the photolithography technique used to print the intricate circuitry on each chip.
Helium supplies have tightened significantly in recent weeks due to Iranian attacks on industrial sites in Qatar, which produces about 30% of the world’s helium, and the closure of a key shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts warned that a prolonged conflict could deplete helium stocks and ultimately lead to production delays for semiconductor manufacturers.
Although the ceasefire announced late Tuesday in the United States is temporary, there are hopes in the market that it will normalize the conflict and ease shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement follows weeks of heightened tensions, with US President Donald Trump threatening to attack Iranian infrastructure unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for about a fifth of global oil shipments.
Oil prices plunged on the news, which could also ease potential inflationary pressures on margins across the semiconductor industry.
U.S. stock futures also rose during the Asian session, suggesting a stronger open on Wall Street.
