New York, Jan 20, 2026, 20:46 EST — Market closed.
Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL.O) slipped roughly 0.8% to $79.80 on Tuesday, following a session that saw its shares swing between $83.45 and $77.17. Trading volume hit around 18.7 million shares.
Wall Street took its sharpest tumble in three months after President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on several European countries, set to kick in at 10% on Feb. 1 and jump to 25% by June 1—unless the U.S. succeeds in buying Greenland. The S&P 500 dropped 2.06%, the Nasdaq slid 2.39%, and both slipped below their 50-day moving averages, a key level for short-term traders. Meanwhile, the Cboe Volatility Index, Wall Street’s fear gauge, hit its highest mark since late November. Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group, said he isn’t convinced yet that the tariff threat will spark a wider correction, especially with the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report—the Fed’s favored inflation measure—due later this week. (Reuters)
Marvell’s stock is particularly sensitive to changes in risk appetite as Wednesday approaches. When investors turn “risk-off” and flock to safer assets, semiconductors often see sharper moves than the overall market.
Tariff discussions complicate matters further for the chip industry. With supply chains spanning multiple countries and major buyers planning capital expenditures months in advance, even just the threat of tariffs can cloud demand forecasts and delay decisions.
Marvell is doubling down on data-center connectivity. Earlier this month, it announced plans to acquire XConn Technologies, a networking equipment maker, for about $540 million. The deal, split roughly 60% cash and 40% stock, is set to close in early 2026. This move aims to bolster Marvell’s AI data-center hardware lineup and ramp up competition against bigger players like Broadcom and Nvidia. (Reuters)
Tuesday’s wide intraday swings highlighted just how fast traders pivot on high-growth stocks when policy news breaks. A small move in rates or even an offhand tariff remark can quickly flip momentum.
That said, the situation works both ways. Should Washington ease up or investors conclude the threats are mostly bluster, chip stocks could rebound just as fast as they dropped.
The downside looks rougher: a drawn-out trade war pushing up costs, shaking confidence, and crimping tech budgets, all while bond yields remain elevated. In that scenario, investors tend to apply lower multiples to firms that rely on steady growth to back their valuations.
Wasif Latif, chief investment officer at Sarmaya Partners, noted that “geopolitical risks … are re-emerging,” as traders factored the tariff threat back into asset prices. European leaders plan to meet for an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to weigh their options. (Reuters)
