Asian chip stocks rally as Super Micro forecast revives AI demand optimism

Asian chip and AI-related stocks rallied Wednesday after Super Micro Computer issued stronger-than-expected preliminary revenue guidance, easing investor concerns about AI infrastructure spending sustainability. South Korea's KOSPI jumped 4.6%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.7%. Super Micro forecast first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $18.5 billion to $19.5 billion, well above its prior $14.5 billion to $15.5 billion estimate and analyst expectations of about $15 billion. The company also raised its preliminary gross margin outlook to 12%–12.5%, citing a favorable customer and product mix. Its shares rose about 12% in after-hours trading Tuesday. The guidance signals continued strong demand for data-center hardware, as Super Micro assembles servers using Nvidia and AMD processors. The rebound follows last week's tech sell-off driven by rising bond yields and debt-funded data-center expansion concerns, including those around CoreWeave. Investors now await upcoming tech earnings for evidence that demand translates into sustainable profitability.