Asian technology shares fell sharply on Friday, driven by concerns that rising memory chip costs are forcing major manufacturers to raise prices, potentially curbing consumer demand for electronics.
The sell-off was triggered by reports that Apple has increased prices for several of its products, a move that investors fear could weigh on the broader artificial intelligence and hardware sectors.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index dropped 3.8% in the session, extending its weekly loss to 5.4% as traders took profits following a record run.
The decline was led by technology stocks, which faced renewed scrutiny over whether aggressive pricing strategies are beginning to dampen end-user appetite.
The broader market pullback reflects a shift in sentiment, with investors growing wary of margin pressure and demand softening in the consumer electronics space.
This development adds to existing concerns about the sustainability of the recent tech rally.