New York, January 18, 2026, 12:02 ET — Market closed.
- On Friday, Micron surged, thrusting the memory-chip maker back into the spotlight of the AI-driven trade.
- U.S. indexes closed the week mostly flat, while chip stocks gained ground heading into the long weekend.
- Tuesday’s jam-packed earnings calendar awaits traders, with policy developments still catching attention.
Micron Technology shares jumped Friday following a disclosure that a company director bought millions worth of stock, putting the chipmaker in the spotlight as Wall Street returns from the holiday. The stock closed at $362.75, rising 7.8% for the session.
The jump is significant because investors have concentrated heavily on a handful of AI-related winners while the wider market has struggled to gain traction. A substantial insider purchase at lofty prices can inject momentum, but it also increases the risk for the next upward move.
U.S. stocks ended Friday almost unchanged, wrapping up a jittery week before the long weekend. The semiconductor index managed to climb 1.2%. “One of the other reasons markets have been flat-lining is we’re at the start of the earnings season,” said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial. (Reuters)
A recent Form 4 filing with the SEC revealed Micron director Teyin M. Liu snapped up 23,200 shares in open-market trades on Jan. 13 and 14. The report detailed three separate purchases, including a block of 11,600 shares at a weighted average price of $337.07. Following these buys, Liu’s direct holdings climbed to 25,910 shares. (SEC)
Liu, who once served as co-CEO of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, currently sits on Micron’s board, Investopedia reported. Micron’s shares have soared nearly 250% in the past year, driven by a squeeze in memory supply for AI data centers. This surge has also boosted other memory-related stocks, including Western Digital and Seagate. (Investopedia)
Insider buying often catches traders’ attention, hinting that a board member still finds value despite recent gains. But sometimes, it’s simply a personal wager—not a prediction—and it doesn’t guarantee the stock won’t fall.
The risk is clear-cut. Memory has always moved in cycles, and any shift in pricing power or a drop in AI spending could hit the sector hard—especially following a steep rally.
The coming week holds more challenges after Micron’s tape. Reuters’ “Week Ahead” column highlights Q4 earnings from Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments related to President Donald Trump’s effort to remove a Federal Reserve governor. (Reuters)
Micron bulls and bears have their first major test on Tuesday, Jan. 20, when U.S. markets reopen after the Martin Luther King Jr. Day break. That’s when traders will gauge risk appetite in the chip sector anew.
