Memory chips are seen on a Samsung Electronics memory module in this arranged photograph in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday, July 26, 2018. SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images Major semiconductor sector stocks in Asia took a tumble on Friday after the industry was downgraded by Morgan Stanley. Shares of South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix — the country's top two chipmakers — fell 3.2 percent and 3.72 percent, respectively, during Asia afternoon trade. Samsung SDI, a battery manufacturing affiliate that is a Samsung Electronics supplier, dropped 6.56 percent. Those losses weighed on the broader Kospi, which closed lower by 0.91 percent. In Japan, semiconductor-linked stocks also took a beating. Shares of Tokyo Electron, which manufactures semiconductor equipment, was down 3.55 percent while manufacturer Advantest lost 4.89 percent for the day. The declines came after Morgan Stanley lowered its rating to "cautious" from "in-line" for the semiconductor industry, highlighting rising inventory levels. The "cautious" label is Morgan Stanley's lowest rating and means its analysts believe the sector will underperform the market over the next 12 to 18 months. Moves in the semiconductor space in Taiwan, however, were more tempered, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. edging lower by 0.81 percent and United Microelectronics Corporation tacking on 0.56 percent by the end of the session. — CNBC's Tae Kim contributed to this report.
Major semiconductor sector stocks in Asia have been hit by the industry’s downgrade from Samsung Electronics. South Korean chipmakers Morgan Stanley and SK Hynix fell over 3% following the lowered rating, while semiconductor-linked stocks in Japan also took a tumble. Samsung Electronics lowered the sector’s rating to “cautious”, reflecting its analysts’ belief that the industry will underperform the market over the coming 12 to 18 months.