New York, Jan 17, 2026, 19:07 (EST) — Market closed
- ASE Technology’s U.S.-listed shares closed Friday around $19.41, up roughly 1.2%, hitting levels close to the session’s peak.
- Chip stocks drove gains heading into the weekend while broader U.S. indexes remained mostly flat.
- Traders are turning their focus to next week’s earnings reports and ASE’s fourth-quarter update, scheduled for early February.
ASE Technology Holding’s shares on the U.S. market ended Friday at $19.41, rising roughly 1.2% to hit a record closing peak. (MacroTrends)
The boost matters since ASE operates at the tail end of chip production—handling packaging and testing—where demand shifts quickly as major clients adjust AI server and smartphone strategies. With markets closed over the weekend, investors are entering a holiday-shortened week still focused on the semiconductor sector.
The shift rippled through markets. ASE’s Taiwan-listed shares (3711.TW) closed Friday at 303.5 Taiwan dollars, gaining 1.68%, ensuring the stock remains in focus as Asia opens on Monday. (TradingView)
Chip stocks led the way on Wall Street Friday, even as the main U.S. indexes barely budged. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (.SOX) climbed roughly 1.2%, according to a Reuters report. Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, called it “a win” for most investors, noting the S&P 500 remains “within spitting distance of 7,000.” (Reuters)
Packaging and test stocks showed mixed moves. Amkor Technology slipped roughly 2.5% on Friday. In contrast, ChipMOS’ U.S. shares surged around 7.6%.
The broader sector held steady, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF climbing roughly 1.6% on Friday. This ETF is often seen by traders as a quick gauge of chip-related risk appetite.
ASE’s main operation kicks in after chips are produced on wafers — assembling, testing, and packaging them before shipment. Orders for these back-end services can spike sharply when demand heats up, but they also vanish just as fast when the market cools.
Much of the February discussion centers on profitability, not just volume. Advanced packaging can boost revenue per unit, but it demands heavy investment in tools and tighter process control until yields stabilize.
Momentum can quickly falter. A stumble in big chipmaker earnings, a slowdown in AI server demand, or a more abrupt currency shift might send investors scrambling for the exits after a solid start to the year.
Traders will be watching to see if chip stocks can maintain their gains when U.S. markets reopen Tuesday, and if back-end players like ASE continue to follow the sector’s upward momentum.
ASE’s investor relations calendar marks Feb. 5 for its 2025 fourth-quarter earnings call—a date that might weigh on the stock. (Aseglobal)
