US Markets Open Mixed, Chip Sector Faces Dual Shock

The Dow Jones rose 0.14% to 54,426.85, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.13% to 7,713.79 and the Nasdaq fell 0.36% to 26,268.84.

New Fronts in the Chip Crisis

■Western Digital posted a 44% revenue jump and earnings surged roughly 11‑fold over three months, yet its stock dropped more than 17% at the open.

■SanDisk also saw revenue growth, but a weaker-than‑expected outlook for the next quarter pushed its shares down over 13%.

■Shares of Intel, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Marvell Technology each fell by 2% or more.

Middle‑East Tensions and Fed Outlook

■U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his preference for a deal with Iran, warning that "the use of force remains an option" if diplomacy fails.

■Initial unemployment claims rose to 199,000, below market expectations.

■Non‑farm productivity rose 1.4% year‑over‑year, outpacing forecasts.

■Tomorrow’s non‑farm payroll report will be a key gauge for the Federal Reserve’s monetary‑policy trajectory.

Aylin Güneş – The twin pressures on the chip sector are reshaping both demand dynamics and investor earnings expectations. While Western Digital and SanDisk’s robust top‑line numbers suggest long‑term dividend and buyback strength, short‑term share declines reflect heightened geopolitical risk and a data‑driven Fed stance. Allocating to dividend‑rich, high‑buyback chip and storage firms can provide stability amid the current volatility.