Apple price hikes spark broad sell‑off in Asian supplier stocks

Apple Inc announced sweeping price increases for its MacBook and iPad lines, prompting a sharp reaction in equity markets. Apple’s own shares fell more than 6% overnight, erasing roughly $250 billion of market capitalisation.

Impact on South Korean memory‑chip makers

The most pronounced regional declines were seen among South Korean memory‑chip giants that supply DRAM and NAND to Apple. SK Hynix Inc (KS:000660) tumbled 9.4%, while Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:005930) lost 9.2%. Both companies are reportedly preparing substantial increases in semiconductor investment, heightening sensitivity to Apple’s pricing moves.

Pressure on camera and component suppliers

Camera‑module supplier LG Innotek Co Ltd (KS:011070) fell 3.8%, and China‑based Luxshare Precision Industry Co Ltd (SZ:002475), which assembles AirPods, Apple Watches and an expanding share of iPhones, dropped 9.4%.

Japanese component makers also slide

Japan’s TDK Corp (TYO:6762), a battery‑technology provider for Apple devices, slid 8.2%; Murata Manufacturing Co (TYO:6981), a leading supplier of multilayer ceramic capacitors, lost 6.9%; and Sony Corp (TYO:6758), known for image sensors used in iPhone cameras, declined nearly 1%.

Taiwanese suppliers show resilience

Taiwan’s key Apple partners were comparatively stable. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TW:2330) – Apple’s exclusive maker of A‑series and M‑series processors – traded little changed. Foxconn Technology Co Ltd (TW:2354), Apple’s largest iPhone assembler, was broadly flat, as was LARGAN Precision Co Ltd (TW:3008), the dominant supplier of premium iPhone camera lenses.

Context of broader semiconductor sentiment

The sell‑off occurs despite Micron Technology’s upbeat AI‑driven outlook earlier in the week, which had reinforced expectations of robust semiconductor demand. The market’s focus has shifted from optimism over AI‑related chip demand to concerns that soaring memory‑chip costs could dampen consumer demand for Apple devices and broader technology spending.

Reporting by Roushni Nair