NEW YORK, Jan 25, 2026, 05:24 EST — Market closed
- Nvidia ended Friday up 1.5%, amid focus on chip sales tied to China
- A report revealed that major Chinese tech companies are gearing up to place orders for Nvidia’s H200 chip
- Traders are eyeing the Fed meeting this week alongside Nvidia’s earnings report due on Feb. 25
Nvidia (NVDA.O) shares ended Friday at $187.67, rising 1.5%. Investors were digesting new developments from China about the firm’s high-end AI chips heading into the weekend.
This matters because China stands as a major buyer of Nvidia’s data-center chips, and any change in access can swiftly shift talks about revenue and margins. For a stock priced on expectations, even minor policy tweaks tend to ripple through quickly.
Nvidia has a major event coming up: it will release its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results on Feb. 25.
A Bloomberg report, highlighted by Investing.com, revealed that Chinese regulators have informed tech giants like Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance to get ready for orders of Nvidia’s H200 chip. This suggests some movement toward official approval. Still, Jordan Klein, a technology expert at Mizuho, warned not to jump the gun on revising forecasts: “I would not get overly excited and start boosting your rev / EPS estimates just yet,” he noted, referencing revenue and earnings per share. Investing.com
Reuters reported Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was in Shanghai Saturday for annual employee events as the company waits on Beijing’s decision about selling the H200 chip to Chinese customers. Washington has already given export approval. The report noted Chinese authorities told customs agents the H200 couldn’t enter China, though it’s unclear if that’s a formal ban or a temporary hold. Nvidia didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The broader tape finished mixed on Friday. The Nasdaq-focused Invesco QQQ ETF gained 0.3%, but the iShares Semiconductor ETF dropped 1.1%.
Advanced Micro Devices climbed 2.3%, tracking the broader chip sector’s momentum.
Macro remains front and center for the coming week. The Federal Reserve’s initial policy meeting of 2026 is scheduled for Jan. 27-28—a pivotal moment for long-duration growth stocks, which typically swing based on rate forecasts and the statement’s tone.
The downside is clear: China might toughen its position, approvals could shrink, or any go-ahead might come with strings attached that restrict volumes. A drawn-out pause would shove investors back to the usual doubts—how much demand is really there, how quickly customers move through stock, and what pricing will do as rivals ramp up pressure.
Traders on Monday will focus on any clearer signals about how Chinese regulators manage H200 entry and purchases. After that, key dates include the Fed’s Jan. 28 decision and Nvidia’s earnings report on Feb. 25.
