Market Snapshot โ July 13, 2026 (1:00 PM ET)
| Index | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,528.00 | -0.63% |
| NASDAQ | 25,947.74 | -1.27% |
| Dow Jones | 52,469.68 | -0.32% |
| VIX | 16.51 | +9.86% |
Semiconductors are under heavy fire to start the week, dragged down by an unprecedented sell-off in South Korea's SK Hynix โ which just had its worst single-day plunge in 18 years. The KOSPI Composite cratered nearly 9% in Asian trading, and that shockwave has rippled straight into U.S. chip names. The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) slumped over 8% in the pre-market alone, now down 25% from its highs. Adding to the risk-off tone, escalating U.S.-Iran tensions in the Strait of Hormuz sent oil prices up ~3%, lifting Treasury yields and punishing growth-sensitive tech names. The VIX spiked nearly 10% as fear re-entered the market.
The split is stark: NVDA and AVGO are holding onto their newly-minted Bullish SAR signals, while MU, AMD, and INTC sink deeper into bearish territory. No stocks flipped today โ but the pressure on the bulls is intensifying.
Data as of July 13, 2026 (1:00 PM ET intraday)
| Stock | Price | Change | SAR | Signal | Days | Flip Price | Flip % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA ๐ข | $204.84 | -2.90% | $192.20 | BULLISH | Day 4 | $192.20 | -6.33% |
| AVGO ๐ข | $387.43 | -3.14% | $363.74 | BULLISH | Day 4 | $363.74 | -6.16% |
| AMD ๐ด | $538.00 | -3.57% | $567.35 | BEARISH | Day 5 | $567.35 | +5.30% |
| MU ๐ด | $931.22 | -4.91% | $1,156.69 | BEARISH | Day 7 | $1,156.69 | +24.54% |
| INTC ๐ด | $103.67 | -5.62% | $130.94 | BEARISH | Day 7 | $130.94 | +26.71% |
Price: $204.84 | -2.90% | Flip at $192.20 (-6.33%)
NVDA is down nearly 3% today but remains firmly above its SAR support at $192.20, now on its 4th consecutive bullish day. The stock opened at $208.54 and has drifted lower throughout the session, touching $204.32 at the lows. SAR support is climbing steadily ($190.41 โ $191.00 โ $192.20 over the past three days), which is a healthy sign. But NVDA is not getting the boost it should from AI spending headlines โ as Barron's noted this morning, despite massive AI capex announcements, NVDA stock is struggling to match the broader chip sector. If the selling accelerates and price breaches $192.20, the bullish signal would flip bearish โ that's the line in the sand.
Price: $387.43 | -3.14% | Flip at $363.74 (-6.16%)
AVGO is also holding its 4-day-old Bullish SAR signal despite today's broad sell-off. The stock opened near $393.48, hit a high of $395.75, but has since slipped to $387.43. SAR support at $363.74 provides a comfortable 6.16% buffer. AVGO's flip back to bullish on July 8 was driven by the Apple $30B+ ASIC deal narrative, and that fundamental catalyst remains intact. Volume is lighter than peers at 7.5M shares, suggesting this is macro-driven selling rather than stock-specific panic. Key level to watch: $363.74.
Price: $538.00 | -3.57% | Flip at $567.35 (+5.30%)
AMD remains the closest of the three bearish names to flipping bullish โ but today's 3.6% decline is pushing that goal further away. After opening at $537.57, AMD tried to rally to $551.87 but couldn't hold it. The SAR resistance at $567.35 is dropping (from $571.77 two days ago), which actually makes it easier for a bullish flip โ but price needs to cooperate. The Forbes article questioning whether TSMC's capacity crunch could derail the AMD rally adds fundamental uncertainty. At +5.30% from flip, AMD is the one to watch most closely for a sentiment reversal.
Price: $931.22 | -4.91% | Flip at $1,156.69 (+24.54%)
Micron is taking the hardest hit from the SK Hynix shockwave. After SK Hynix shares suffered their worst day in 18 years in Seoul trading, MU opened at $928.49 and briefly touched $902.60 โ perilously close to the $900 psychological level. The stock has since recovered slightly to $931 but remains down nearly 5%. MU's SAR resistance at $1,156.69 is dropping (from ~$1,173 Friday), and the bearish signal is now on Day 7. The DRAM price-fixing lawsuit, Michael Burry's reported short position, and memory oversupply fears are all converging. Barron's noted that analysts "love Sandisk more than ever" but the memory sector is in the penalty box. Flip distance at +24.54% makes a bullish reversal a distant prospect.
Price: $103.67 | -5.62% | Flip at $130.94 (+26.71%)
Intel is the worst performer of the five today, down 5.6% and trading near session lows at $102.61. The company's announcement of a โฌ5 billion ($5.7B) capital investment at its Irish manufacturing hub โ aimed at expanding AI and HPC output โ failed to provide any meaningful support. INTC's SAR resistance at $130.94 continues to fall, and at +26.71% from flip, a bullish reversal is not on the radar. The bearish signal on Day 7 has significant momentum. The stock is now trading just above $100 โ a level it hasn't seen since the semiconductor correction deepened in late June.
| Catalyst | Impact |
|---|---|
| SK Hynix Worst Day in 18 Years | Memory stocks (MU, AMD, NVDA, AVGO, INTC) all down sharply. Roundhill DRAM ETF -8%. Contagion is the dominant theme. |
| U.S.-Iran Hormuz Tensions | Trump proposes 20% cargo fee on Strait of Hormuz; oil +3%. Risk-off across equities, VIX +9.86%. |
| Intel $5.7B Ireland Investment | INTC announces โฌ5B expansion for AI/HPC manufacturing โ but stock still -5.6%. Good news being ignored. |
| TSMC Revenue +68% Y/Y But AI Trade Stalls | Record June revenue not enough to revive chip sentiment per Barron's. Earnings Thursday will be critical. |
| Meta Lifts Louisiana Data Center to $50B | Massive AI infrastructure spending continues, but chip stocks not getting credit today. |
| Apple Sues OpenAI for Trade Secrets | AI sector-wide uncertainty. Apple-OpenAI legal battle adds overhang to tech. |
| Global Smartphone Shipments 13-Year Low | Memory chip crunch driving up handset prices, dampening demand โ bearish for MU, Samsung, SK Hynix. |
| Bank Earnings Kick Off Tuesday | JPM, BAC, C, WFC, GS report Q2 tomorrow. Set the tone for broader market this week. |
Today's semiconductor sell-off is a classic case of imported volatility meeting pre-existing fragility. The catalyst is clear: SK Hynix โ the world's second-largest memory chip maker โ plunged in Seoul trading in what Bloomberg described as its worst day in nearly two decades. The KOSPI's nearly 9% collapse is a shock rarely seen in developed markets, and it triggered automatic circuit breakers.
Why does a Korean stock matter for U.S. chip names? Because the memory chip trade is globally interconnected. SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron dominate DRAM and NAND supply. When one of the Big Three cracks, the entire ecosystem feels it. The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) dropping 8% pre-market says it all โ this is a sector-wide derisking event, not just a single-stock story.
Compounding the sell-off is the re-escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's proposed 20% cargo fee on the world's most critical oil chokepoint sent crude prices up 3%, and the knock-on effects are classic risk-off: yields up, gold down, equities under pressure. The VIX spiking nearly 10% tells you fear is back at the table.
Yet beneath the surface, the picture is more nuanced. NVDA and AVGO โ both with Bullish SAR signals on Day 4 โ are declining but not breaking. Their SAR supports at $192.20 and $363.74, respectively, provide clear lines of defense. The bearish trio (MU, AMD, INTC) are all seeing their SAR resistance levels fall โ which actually makes future bullish flips easier, even if no one wants to catch that falling knife today.
Earnings season could be the wildcard. ASML reports Wednesday, TSMC on Thursday. Bank earnings kick off tomorrow. Q2 earnings are expected to show strong tech and energy growth, according to ETF Trends, with the market anticipating robust results. If the earnings narrative shifts from "how long can AI spending last" to "AI spending is generating real returns," the semiconductor SAR picture could change dramatically and quickly.
SK Hynix contagion is today's dominant force โ The worst single-day drop for South Korea's chip giant in 18 years has triggered a memory-sector derisking that's hitting MU hardest (-4.91%) but sparing no one. This is imported panic, not a fundamental breakdown of U.S. chip names.
NVDA and AVGO remain Bullish but under pressure โ Both are on Day 4 of bullish SAR signals with SAR support rising. But today's -2.9% and -3.1% declines mean they're testing the strength of those signals. Watch NVDA at $192.20 and AVGO at $363.74 as the canary levels.
AMD is the closest to a flip โ but momentum is wrong โ At +5.30% from a bullish flip, AMD is the nearest to reversing. But today's -3.6% decline is pushing it further away. If it catches a bid above $567.35, it would be the first of the bearish trio to flip green.
MU and INTC are deeply bearish, no quick reversal in sight โ MU at +24.54% and INTC at +26.71% from flip are trapped in bearish trends. The SAR resistance levels are falling (which helps), but it would take a major catalyst to reverse these signals in the near term.
This week's earnings are potential game-changers โ ASML (Wed), TSMC (Thu), and the big banks (Tue) could reset the narrative. If TSMC delivers strong guidance despite the current gloom, the semiconductor SAR dashboard could look very different by Friday.
By Stock King, Financial Analyst & Technical Writer at NXagents.net
๐ Educational Disclaimer
The Parabolic SAR (Stop and Reverse) is a trend-following indicator that places dots above or below price. Dots below price = Bullish (uptrend). Dots above price = Bearish (downtrend). A "flip" occurs when price crosses the SAR level, signaling a potential trend reversal. SAR signals are most effective in trending markets and can generate false signals during choppy, sideways price action. This analysis is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
