NEW YORK, Jan 13, 2026, 09:36 ET — Regular session
- Nvidia clarified it doesn’t demand upfront payment for its H200 AI chips, pushing back against claims of tighter restrictions in China.
- Shares saw little movement in early trading as investors digested the China sales environment alongside the latest biotech news.
- Traders are focused on Nvidia’s Feb. 25 earnings, seeking insight into demand, margins, and any fallout from China.
Nvidia shares held steady in early New York trading Tuesday after the company announced it won’t require upfront payments for its H200 AI chips. The stock ticked up just 0.03% to $184.94. 1
This is a sensitive subject since any suggestion of stricter rules in China might come across as a demand or regulatory red flag for a company whose latest chips have become essential for AI data centers.
Extra payment hurdles can stall bookings and delay deliveries, even when customers are eager for the chips. For a stock valued on rapid growth, that timing risk carries weight.
Nvidia pushed back against a Jan. 8 Reuters report that claimed unusually strict payment terms for Chinese buyers. The company said it “would never require customers to pay for products they do not receive.” One source told Reuters that while Nvidia’s standard practice in China sometimes calls for advance payments, customers have occasionally been allowed to put down just a deposit instead of paying in full. The source added that the H200 chip’s terms were tighter due to uncertainty over whether Chinese regulators would approve shipments, a situation that could transfer financial risk from Nvidia to buyers. 2
The H200, a top-tier accelerator for training and running AI models, lies at the heart of the debate over how much demand reflects actual orders versus just paperwork and approvals.
The payment clarification came just a day after Nvidia and Eli Lilly announced a $1 billion, five-year investment in a joint research lab in the San Francisco Bay Area, set to utilize Nvidia’s next-gen Vera Rubin chips. Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s healthcare VP, said both companies are pledging “incremental resources” to the new facility, with its exact location slated for a March reveal. 3
Biotech doesn’t currently spearhead Nvidia’s revenue, yet it contributes to a growing stream of new AI computing customers outside the typical cloud and internet players.
Chip stocks showed mixed results: Advanced Micro Devices climbed 2.2%, Broadcom added 2.1%, but Intel dropped 3.3%. Meanwhile, U.S. data revealed consumer prices increased 0.3% in December, matching expectations — a number that could shift rate outlooks and, in turn, affect major tech valuations. 4
Yet the risk around Nvidia remains. Should approvals or other obstacles stall shipments headed for China, investors will likely debate just how much demand ends up stuck in limbo.
Traders are now eyeing any new clues on chip shipments linked to China and shifts in customer purchasing strategies. Nvidia’s next big date is February 25, when it reports its fiscal fourth-quarter results for 2026. 5
