US tech shares tumble as Apple price hikes and inflation fears pressure semiconductor stocks

Apple’s announcement of price increases for MacBook and iPad models sparked renewed investor concerns about consumer demand and cost pressures on semiconductor suppliers. The news helped drive the Nasdaq down more than 1% on Friday, while other U.S. indices posted modest losses.

Semiconductor‑related stocks fell sharply: Micron, Nvidia, AMD and Intel each posted double‑digit declines, although Micron later rallied 14.6% after reporting earnings that beat estimates. Analysts linked the volatility to lingering inflation in the United States, where the personal consumption expenditures index rose above 4% for the first time in three years, fueling expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike – the CME FedWatch tool shows a 64% probability of a 25‑basis‑point increase at the September meeting.

The same pressures rippled through European markets. The pan‑European Stoxx 600 slipped 0.68%, with the German DAX, French CAC 40, British FTSE 100, Italian FTSE MIB and Spanish IBEX 35 all posting declines. The sector was further hit by news that OpenAI may postpone its IPO to 2027, adding to doubts about AI‑driven valuation peaks.

Commodity markets moved in the opposite direction, with Brent and WTI crude prices falling and gold gaining modestly. Overall, the episode underscores how Apple’s pricing strategy, coupled with high‑inflation data and monetary‑policy concerns, is reshaping risk sentiment across technology and semiconductor stocks worldwide.