Stock Market: European Semiconductors Soar Following Relief in the Middle East

A surge driven by the entire sector, led by Riber and Dutch heavyweights

All eleven stocks in the sector ended higher, a rare enough occurrence to be noted. RIBER, which also published its 2025 results, stood out with a spectacular jump of 20.65%, while the two giants ASM INTERNATIONAL (+9.43%) and SOITEC (+9.39%) drove the sector with their market capitalization.
ASML HOLDING, by far the largest component in the sector with nearly 470 billion euros in capitalization, rose by 8.69% and served as the true weighted engine of the session. STMICROELECTRONICS (+6.82%) and BE SEMICONDUCTOR (+6.77%) rounded out the broad-based rally.
The semiconductors sector's outperformance is clear compared to comparable indices: the broader Technology sector gained 7.05% and the Industrial sector 6.94%, confirming that the momentum is amplified in the most cyclical stocks. The macro context largely explains this movement: the Iran-US ceasefire announced on April 8th caused a sharp drop in energy markets—Brent oil fell by 15% below $100—and eased pressure on production costs and global supply chains, which are essential for the chip industry. The CAC 40 jumped by 4.71% and the SBF 120 by 4.61% in a global relief movement.

A strong rebound, but technical signals urge caution

For the investor, the question is whether this surge marks the start of a sustainable recovery or just a relief rebound. The sector's technical indicators present a mixed message. The weighted RSI stands at 41, remaining in neutral territory and far from any overbought level, suggesting that the movement is not yet overheated. The weighted average price is above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a medium and long-term bullish momentum despite the recent correction related to the conflict.

However, the sectorial MACD remains below its signal line, indicating that the underlying momentum has not yet fully confirmed an upward trend. This discrepancy suggests the session is more of a sharp catch-up following weeks of geopolitical tension rather than the beginning of a new trend. Confirmation will largely depend on the progress of the talks scheduled in Pakistan and the effective reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In the meantime, if the normalization of oil prices continues, it would provide structural support to the entire value chain of semiconductors.