Global chip stocks from Nvidia to ASML fall on geopolitics, Trump comments

Global chip stocks fell sharply, with ASML, Nvidia and TSMC posting declines amid reports of tighter export restrictions from the U.S. and a ramp-up of geopolitical tensions fueled by comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump.

ASML’s Netherlands-listed shares were down 6.5% in morning trade, while Tokyo Electron shares in Japan closed nearly 7.5% lower.

The moves came after Bloomberg on Wednesday reported that the Biden administration is considering a wide-sweeping rule to clamp down on companies exporting their critical chipmaking equipment to China.

Washington’s foreign direct product rule, or FDPR, allows the U.S. to put controls on foreign-made products even if they use the smallest amount of American technology. This can affect non-U.S. companies.

CNBC has reached out to the U.S. State Department, the Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for comment on the report.

President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco in November.

Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

The remarks have thrown doubt over the U.S. commitment to defend Taiwan if Trump becomes president and in the event of an attack by China, which sees the democratically governed island as part of its territory.

The Taiwan-listed shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. closed down 2.4% on Wednesday.

The geopolitical tensions also weighed on chip stocks in the U.S. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF was down 3.5% in premarket trading, while Nvidia fell 4%. Arm and Applied Materials were among the other U.S.-listed laggards in trading before the bell.

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