Nasdaq climbs 0.94% boosted by semiconductor surge
The US stock market closed higher on Tuesday, January 6. The Nasdaq rose by 0.94% to close at 25,639.71 points, driven by a particularly dynamic semiconductor sector. Memory chip manufacturers and electronic equipment suppliers excelled amid supply chain tensions, while Tesla faced competitive pressures and MicroStrategy retreated along with crypto assets.
Chip Manufacturers in the Spotlight
The session was highlighted by a spectacular surge in the semiconductor sector. Microchip Technology took the lead with a gain of 11.65% to $74.87. Micron Technology, a specialist in memory chips, soared 10.02% to $343.43, benefiting from speculation surrounding a supply shortage that could drive up prices for flash and DRAM chips. NXP Semiconductors followed with an increase of 9.86% to $245.95, while Texas Instruments climbed 8.43% to $192.10, supported by the unveiling of new automotive semiconductors at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.
Lam Research (+6.26% to $206.96), GlobalFoundries (+6.14% to $39.41), Axon Enterprise (+6.00% to $626.65), Analog Devices (+5.64% to $292.94), Onsemi (+5.23% to $61.76), and Intuitive Surgical (+4.67% to $592.85) rounded out the list of strong gainers. The sector is benefiting from a favorable context: the demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure is prompting manufacturers to shift production capacity toward AI servers, creating a shortage in supply for certain segments.
Tesla and MicroStrategy Under Pressure
The downside concerns Tesla, which fell 4.14% to $432.96, marking the biggest drop in the index. The automaker is under pressure after an announcement from Nvidia at CES: the group unveiled open-source AI models for autonomous vehicles, intensifying competition in this strategic segment. The stock is also weighed down by the drop in its global deliveries in 2025 (-8.6%) and the loss of its global leadership to China's BYD.
MicroStrategy declined 4.10% to $157.97, following the trend of cryptocurrencies. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) lost 3.04% to $214.35, while Comcast decreased 2.52% to $27.42. Applovin Corp (-2.48% at $617.24), Marvell Technology (-2.22% at $88.23), Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (-2.16% at $85.67), Mondelez International (-1.88% at $52.73), Apple (-1.83% at $262.36), and Diamondback Energy (-1.71% at $144.47) were also among the declining stocks.
A mixed session at the start of the year
This January session highlights the sectoral divergences driving Wall Street. The Nasdaq ended the day at 25,639.71 points, gaining 0.94% fueled by the appetite for semiconductors and tech equipment manufacturers. The chip sector continues to capture investors' attention in a global market projected to reach $1 trillion by the end of 2026, according to analysts. Semiconductors dedicated to artificial intelligence remain at the heart of this trend. Conversely, some iconic stocks like Tesla or Apple are suffering from increased competition or less favorable sector positioning. The session confirms the persistent volatility of the US markets at the start of the year.
This content has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence. While we strive for accuracy, some nuances may differ from the original French version.
