New York, Jan 18, 2026, 05:19 EST — Market closed.
- NVDA slipped 0.44% on Friday, though chip stocks largely held steady heading into the long weekend
- New reports say China customs is blocking H200 shipments, introducing fresh near-term risks
- Traders eye Tuesday’s market reopening, a packed earnings calendar, and Nvidia’s results set for Feb. 25
Nvidia shares closed the week slightly lower, though Tuesday’s outlook appears more uncertain.
China is the immediate concern. Reports say customs officials have halted shipments of Nvidia’s H200 processors, raising fresh delivery risks despite steady signals from wider chip demand.
Suppliers making parts for Nvidia’s H200 chip have halted production after Chinese customs stopped shipments of the newly approved processors from entering the country, the Financial Times reported Friday. Reuters was unable to confirm the report immediately, and Nvidia did not reply to a request for comment outside regular business hours. Sources said officials haven’t clarified whether this is a formal ban or just a temporary hold. (Reuters)
Why this matters now: Nvidia’s valuation remains closely tied to strong data-center demand and its capacity to deliver high-end chips without delay. Any disruption related to China—be it approvals, customs, or political issues—could swiftly impact market expectations.
Nvidia ended Friday’s session at $186.23, slipping 0.44%. (StockAnalysis)
The broader market offered little guidance heading into the break. U.S. stocks closed nearly unchanged on Friday as chipmakers boosted the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index, while traders eyed a holiday-shortened week ahead. Anthony Saglimbene at Ameriprise said investors would “take that as a win,” and Bruce Zaro at Granite Wealth Management described mid-January as “pretty choppy.” Attention also fell on options expiration, when monthly derivatives contracts roll off and can disrupt flows. (Reuters)
Chip stocks saw a lift the previous day. Nvidia jumped over 2% in Thursday trading as investors sought semiconductor plays linked to U.S. supply-chain investments. Meanwhile, ASML, Lam Research, and Applied Materials each gained between 4% and 6%, according to a Reuters report. (Reuters)
Traders are caught between two forces: a positive takeaway from the chip supply chain, offset by a new complication out of China.
Keep an eye on Tuesday’s reopen for any updates on H200 deliveries and whether the problem remains confined to one product line or expands into wider procurement policies. Moves from peers could also play a role, particularly if chip stocks begin pricing in the China factor as a sector-wide issue instead of just a company-specific one.
The downside is straightforward. Should the China situation escalate into a more defined blockade, investors could begin factoring in slower shipments in the near term and a more complicated demand outlook, despite robust global AI spending.
After the reopening, Nvidia’s next big event will be its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings release on Feb. 25. (Nvidia)
