Shares in chipmakers underpinning AI boom rocket in first half of 2026

Shares in chipmakers have surged in the first half of this year as investors piled into companies that make the hardware underpinning the AI boom, according to analysis. Investors have driven up the value of semiconductor and memory chip manufacturers, whose profits have soared during 2026, at the expense of some large software companies, which have fallen out of favour this year. The share price of some chip companies has tripled, or more, since the start of January, driving Asia Pacific stock markets sharply higher. South Korea’s Kospi index is up 125% this year, its strongest first half since at least 1990, Guardian analysis of data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed. This was driven by the electronics group Samsung, whose share price has jumped 183% so far this year, and SK Hynix, which has risen 310% since the start of January. Both have reported a big increase in demand this year, as AI companies have competed for chips to power their datacentres. US chipmakers have also been in great demand. Shares in Sandisk are up 780% in 2026, and have rocketed by 4,510% over the last 12 months. The digital storage company Western Digital has gained 240% this year, while Micron is up 296% and Seagate has risen 226%, with two trading days left until the second half of the year begins. …