NEW YORK, Jan 20, 2026, 04:57 EST — Premarket
- Nvidia shares dipped 0.5% in premarket after Inventec flagged potential delays in H200 chip shipments to China
- U.S. markets reopened today after the holiday, with futures slipping as trade tensions flared up again
- Investors are looking for clearer signals on China approvals alongside Nvidia’s upcoming earnings date
Nvidia shares dipped 0.5% to $186.23 in premarket trading Tuesday after Taiwanese server maker Inventec said the fate of Nvidia’s H200 AI chip in China “appears to be stuck on the China side.” Inventec President Jack Tsai stressed the outcome “depends on the political direction,” adding the company must follow all regulations. 1
The update comes as Wall Street gets ready to open after Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Investors are looking for an early read on risk appetite following the long weekend. 2
Nvidia is once again under the spotlight over China, a crucial factor in this deal. Its flagship data center chip, the H200, hinges on swift regulatory sign-offs. Delays here risk stalling AI server orders and rattling the broader supply chain.
Inventec, known for making notebooks and AI servers, uses Nvidia gear such as the H200 in some systems and builds servers for Chinese customers primarily at its Shanghai facility. Tsai said the company plans to keep talking with clients and proceed if allowed but emphasized, “there is nothing we can do” if they’re blocked.
Last week, the U.S. gave the green light for exporting the H200 chip to China—but not without strings attached. According to Reuters, Chinese customs officials have told agents the chip isn’t allowed into the country. Whether this signals a formal ban or merely a temporary hold remains unclear.
Macro headwinds continue to weigh on markets. Global stocks slipped, with U.S. futures falling after President Donald Trump intensified moves to buy Greenland and threatened tariffs on European nations. In Asia, Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures each fell more than 1%. A strategist at Capital.com suggested the tensions could prove “self-limiting” if markets respond sharply. 3
Chipmakers frequently serve as a gauge for economic growth and geopolitical strains, and Nvidia sits right at the center of it all. Just a hint of postponed approvals from Beijing or new sanctions from Washington can move the stock before markets even open.
The next steps remain uncertain. China could allow limited imports for certain uses, or it might tighten customs rules with a clearer ban. Either way, timing will be crucial for suppliers managing production and investors projecting near-term revenue.
Traders are watching closely for further action from Chinese regulators and new U.S. guidance on compliance rules. They’ll also be alert to whether the wider risk-off tone in futures spills over into cash markets when the regular session begins.
Nvidia plans to report its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 25, according to its events calendar. 4
