AI stocks pop before the bell as TSMC lifts Nvidia, AMD and chip peers

16 January 2026

New York, Jan 16, 2026, 06:29 ET — Premarket

AI chip stocks pushed higher in premarket Friday, boosted by names connected to data-center investment. Nvidia climbed 2.1% to $187.05, AMD picked up 1.9% to $227.92, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s U.S.-listed shares surged 4.5% to $341.64. ASML advanced 5.4%, while Broadcom edged up roughly 0.9%.

This matters because investors have been searching for clear signals on how long the AI build-out can maintain its current speed. Chip supply remains the bottleneck for many AI systems, and spending forecasts from the top manufacturers usually shape sentiment across the entire sector.

TSMC reported on Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit jumped 35% to a record T$505.7 billion ($16 billion). The chipmaker also projected 2026 revenue to rise nearly 30% in U.S. dollar terms. Capital expenditures are expected to hit between $52 billion and $56 billion this year, funding new plants and equipment. The company flagged plans to expand U.S. capacity. CEO C.C. Wei cautioned that investment decisions will be made with care, saying, “We’re also very nervous about it.” Reuters

Beyond the U.S., the TSMC update reignited interest in AI stocks throughout Asian markets, Reuters noted. Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, described it as “a much-needed shot in the arm for those AI names.” Reuters

Wikimedia Foundation announced new deals with Big Tech players like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon to monetize access to Wikipedia content for AI training. Lane Becker, president of Wikimedia Enterprise, emphasized that these companies “need to figure out how to support financially” the encyclopedia they depend on. Reuters

Meta inched up 0.9% to $620.80 in premarket action. Amazon edged higher by 0.7%, reaching $238.18. Meanwhile, Microsoft dipped 0.6% to $456.66, and Alphabet dropped 0.9% to $332.78.

AI stocks have swiftly punished even the slightest signs of oversupply or softer spending, with hefty capex commitments leaving minimal margin for error. Higher interest rates tend to target the priciest tech segments first, even if the fundamental demand remains solid.

Traders eye U.S. industrial production figures due later Friday alongside comments from Fed officials for clues on short-term moves. Markets will be shut Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. After that, focus shifts to the Fed’s policy meeting on Jan. 27-28 and Meta’s earnings report following the close on Jan. 28.

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Shan Ahmed Khan is a senior markets reporter at TS2.tech. His coverage ranges from stocks and technology to economic developments across global markets. He worked in investment research and market analysis before becoming a financial journalist and is a graduate of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

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