Qualcomm Stock Surges 15% on AI Chip Announcement, Tech Sector Rallies Amid Trade Deal Hopes
Qualcomm Inc (QCOM) shares jumped as much as 19% to start the week after unveiling its AI200 and AI250 accelerator chips, marking a strategic pivot into data center semiconductors. The new offerings—slated for 2026 and 2027 releases—target Nvidia's dominance in AI inference workloads with liquid-cooled rack-scale systems. "We built credibility in mobile before ascending to data center tier," said Qualcomm's Durga Malladi, signaling the company's vertical expansion.
The broader tech sector gained momentum alongside QCOM, fueled by Optimism around a potential US-China trade agreement. Tariff disputes had roiled chip stocks throughout 2025, but progress toward resolution now threatens to unlock value for China-exposed firms. Market observers note the rally reflects pent-up demand for growth assets as macroeconomic clouds dissipate.
