Regional equities tumble after Apple warns of unprecedented memory-chip price hikes, stoking inflation and margin fears.
Asian markets fell sharply Friday after Apple Inc. signaled it may raise device prices due to soaring memory-chip costs, fueling concerns over inflation and corporate earnings. The Nikkei 225 slid 4.3% to near 69,169, while the KOSPI led losses with an 8.2% decline to around 8,200.
The warning follows Apple’s statement that memory and storage prices have surged at an unprecedented pace, driven by strong demand. Analysts noted the trend could pressure margins for firms investing heavily in AI infrastructure. Prior sessions saw modest gains, with regional benchmarks trading near multi-month highs.
SoftBank’s delayed OpenAI IPO also weighed on sentiment, as its stake in the ChatGPT developer is valued at roughly $65 billion. The selloff reflects broader unease over input costs and tech-sector profitability.