Chinese Chip Stocks Rally 11% on Huawei Breakthrough
0h ago|4 min readStandard
Fazen Markets Editorial Desk
Collective editorial team · methodology
semiconductorshuaweichina-tech
Fazen Markets Editorial Desk
Collective editorial team · methodology
Trades XAUUSD 24/5 on autopilot. Verified Myfxbook performance. Free forever.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. The majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Vortex HFT is informational software — not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Share prices across China's Huawei Reveals New Chip Scaling Law as SMIC Nears 3nm Production">semiconductor manufacturing and design sector surged on 25 May 2026 following a breakthrough in advanced chip design reported by Huawei. The iShares MSCI China A-Share Semiconductor Index advanced 11.2% in a single session, led by gains exceeding 15% in key foundry stocks. Investing.com reported the development, marking the most significant single-day rally for the sector in over three years.
China's domestic chip industry has operated under intense pressure since the U.S. implemented broad export controls on advanced semiconductor technology in late 2022. The last comparable sector-wide rally of this magnitude occurred in September 2023, when Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) announced its first 7nm process node, lifting the sector index by 9.8%. The current macro backdrop features persistent U.S. 10-year Treasury yields above 4.3% and a generally risk-off sentiment in global tech equities.
The catalyst is a reported design breakthrough from Huawei's HiSilicon unit, which has developed a new chip architecture that significantly improves performance per watt using existing production nodes. This innovation directly addresses a core bottleneck imposed by sanctions: the inability to access the latest extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment. By redesigning chips for efficiency rather than relying on next-generation fabrication, Huawei has potentially created a viable pathway for advanced computing applications without requiring cutting-edge tools from ASML.
The rally was broad-based but most pronounced in companies closest to Huawei's supply chain. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) shares rose 16.5%, adding approximately $12 billion to its market capitalization. Hua Hong Semiconductor saw a 14.8% gain. Chip design firms like Will Semiconductor and GigaDevice Semiconductor Beijing jumped 13.2% and 9.7%, respectively.
Performance comparison shows the sector dramatically outperformed broader indices. While the Shanghai Composite rose 0.6% and the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index gained 2.1%, the semiconductor-specific index's 11.2% surge was an outlier. The move also created a notable divergence from global peers; the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) was flat on the same trading day.
Key price changes from 24 May close to 25 May close:
| Ticker | Change | Closing Price (CNY) |
|---|---|---|
| SMIC | +16.5% | 58.40 |
| Hua Hong Semi | +14.8% | 32.15 |
| Will Semi | +13.2% | 142.80 |
The breakthrough has second-order effects across multiple sectors. Primary beneficiaries are domestic semiconductor equipment makers like NAURA and Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc (AMEC), whose tools are essential for producing these newly designed chips. Secondary gains will likely flow to Chinese cloud and AI companies like Alibaba Cloud and Baidu, which gain access to more powerful, sanctioned-proof domestic processors for data centers.
A key counter-argument is that this design advance does not equate to manufacturing parity. China's chipmaking ecosystem still lags multiple generations behind industry leaders TSMC and Samsung in transistor density and yield rates. The performance claims require independent verification through commercial product launches. The immediate market positioning shows heavy institutional flow into Chinese tech ETFs, with notable short covering in names like SMIC. Concurrent weakness was observed in some U.S. semiconductor capital equipment stocks sensitive to reduced long-term demand from China.
The immediate catalyst to watch is Huawei's anticipated product launch, expected before the end of Q3 2026, which will provide the first real-world benchmark for the new chip design. The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is likely to issue a response, potentially by mid-June, which could trigger further volatility.
Key technical levels for the iShares MSCI China A-Share Semiconductor Index are 2,850 as initial support and 3,200 as the next resistance level, a zone not tested since early 2024. Investors should monitor the 50-day moving average for SMIC, currently near CNY 48.50, for a confirmation of trend sustainability. A failure to hold these gains post-launch would signal the rally was speculative.
For Apple, the immediate direct impact is limited, but the long-term strategic threat increases. A more competitive Chinese semiconductor sector strengthens local smartphone rivals like Xiaomi and Honor, potentially eroding Apple's market share in China, its largest international market. For Qualcomm, the risk is more acute, as its business relies heavily on selling mobile processors to Chinese phone makers. Successful domestic alternatives could displace significant revenue over a multi-year horizon.
The 2023 SMIC 7nm announcement was a fabrication milestone but relied on older deep ultraviolet (DUV) tools in a complex, lower-yield process. The 2026 Huawei development is a design architecture breakthrough, making more efficient use of existing manufacturing capabilities. This architectural approach mirrors strategies used by companies like Apple with its M-series chips, focusing on software-hardware co-design to extract performance, rather than purely chasing smaller transistor sizes.
Historical precedent suggests the opposite. Past Chinese advancements in sectors like telecommunications and hypersonic missiles have typically resulted in tighter, more specific export controls. The U.S. may respond by further restricting the sale of specific electronic design automation (EDA) software or refining rules on chip architectures. The goal is to maintain a technological gap, not to concede it.
The Huawei-led design breakthrough represents the most credible near-term threat to U.S. dominance in advanced semiconductors since sanctions began.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. CFD trading carries high risk of capital loss.
Vortex HFT is our free MT4/MT5 Expert Advisor. Verified Myfxbook performance. No subscription. No fees. Trades 24/5.
Position yourself for the macro moves discussed above
Start TradingSponsored
Open a demo account in 30 seconds. No deposit required.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.