Investing.com– Most Asian stocks fell on Wednesday, as technology shares, particularly chipmakers, were battered by a weak outlook from industry bellwether ASML.
Cooling optimism over Chinese stimulus measures also weighed, with Chinese markets mostly extending steep losses from the prior session.
Regional markets took a weak lead-in from Wall Street, as a fall in heavyweight chipmaking stocks dragged U.S. benchmarks from record highs. U.S. stock index futures were steady in Asian trade, with focus on more upcoming third-quarter earnings reports.
Asian tech, chip stocks dip tracking weak ASML outlook
Tech-heavy indexes were the worst performers in Asia, especially those with a heavy weightage of chipmaking stocks.
Japan’sNikkei 225 index slid 1.9%, weighed by a 13% fall in Lasertec Corp (TYO:6920) and a 10% drop in Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TYO:8035), while South Korea’s KOSPI shed 0.7% on losses in SK Hynix Inc (KS:000660) and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:005930).
Chipmakers tracked declines in their U.S. peers after lithographic equipment maker ASML Holding NV (AS:ASML) posted weaker-than-expected sales guidance for 2025, citing soft demand in sectors not exposed to artificial intelligence.
The Dutch company is a leading supplier of cutting-edge chipmaking equipment, and acts as a bellwether for the sector. ASML’s U.S. shares (NASDAQ:ASML) slid 16% in overnight trade.
Taiwan’s TSMC (TW:2330) (NYSE:TSM)- the world’s biggest chipmaker- fell 2% in Taipei trade, tracking losses in ASML. TSMC is also considered as a bellwether for the industry, and is set to report its third-quarter earnings on Thursday.
