New York, March 3, 2026, 10:12 EST — Regular session
- Micron slipped about 6% in early trading, lagging several of the larger chip names.
- The company said it has started shipping customer samples of its 256GB low-power server memory module, a part built specifically for AI data centers.
- Energy prices are climbing on Middle East tensions, inflation worries aren’t easing, and traders are watching for Micron’s results set for March 18.
Micron Technology (MU) was down 6.3% to $386.78 at 10:12 a.m. EST on Tuesday. Shares touched a session low of $379.67 before ticking higher.
Stocks and bonds saw outflows as investors cut back, reacting to a jump in energy prices that pushed inflation fears higher and complicated the outlook on rates.
“These are uncomfortable days for risk takers, and for now, energy is king,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB. She pointed to higher fuel prices and disruptions in shipping as markets try to figure out the next move. Kitco
Oil grabbed attention with Brent crude jumping about 7% to settle at $83.44 per barrel, not far off a 19-month high. The U.S.-Israeli tensions with Iran have ratcheted up supply jitters, prompting tankers to steer clear of the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for global energy shipments.
Micron says it’s begun shipping customer samples of a 256GB LPDRAM module built on the SOCAMM2 server platform. The company touts lower power draw compared with standard RDIMMs used in server racks. “Micron’s 256GB SOCAMM2 offering enables the most power-efficient CPU-attached memory solution for both AI and HPC,” according to Raj Narasimhan, the company’s SVP for Cloud Memory. Nvidia’s Ian Finder describes the part as “enabling the next generation of AI CPUs.” Micron Technology
Chip stocks took a turn, with Morgan Stanley moving Nvidia back into its top semiconductor spot, displacing Micron, according to a note cited by TradingView. Attention now turns to Nvidia’s GTC conference, slated for March 16-19, for any new signals on demand or where products might be headed.
Nvidia shed 2.1% and AMD plunged nearly 3.5%. Broadcom lost roughly 2.1% as well during that stretch.
Micron’s bigger headache: if this energy shock sticks around, growth could stall. ECB chief economist Philip Lane warned that an extended Middle East conflict may push inflation up and put the brakes on the economy—a mix that spells trouble for consumer electronics demand, potentially keeping policymakers on pause for longer.
March 18 is circled for Micron. The chipmaker is set to report its fiscal Q2 numbers, with an earnings call scheduled for later in the day.
