DRAM is trading 6.3% down today as stalled labor negotiations at Samsung raise the risk of a May 21 walkout, which could remove 3% of global memory-chip supply.
- The potential strike creates a significant sector-specific shock for the memory complex, compounded by broader market weakness as major indices fall 0.5-0.8% on hot inflation data and Middle East tensions.
- Today's selloff reverses a massive rally for the newly-launched ETF, which had surged 107% since April 2 driven by structural AI demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and NAND flash.