Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China
Published . Updated .
A report talks about how smugglers are using their ingenuity to remove HBM chips from low-end servers and make a profit in China
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF-12.3% 30d
VanEck Semiconductor ETF: it holds chipmakers. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story.
- SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF-15.7% 30d
iShares Semiconductor ETF: it holds chipmakers. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story.
- KWEB KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF-4.6% 30d
KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF: it holds Chinese internet companies. Linked by “china” (Chinese tech) in this story.
- XRT SPDR S&P Retail ETF
SPDR S&P Retail ETF: it holds retailers. Linked by “china” (retail and consumer goods) in this story.
- FXI iShares China Large-Cap ETF-5.0% 30d
iShares China Large-Cap ETF holds stocks listed in China, which this story is about (“china”).
- ASML ASML Holding N.V-0.1% 17d
ASML Holding N.V (special industry machinery): chip demand, export rules and supply drive chipmakers' shares. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story.
- NVDA Nvidia-9.9% 30d
Nvidia (semiconductors and related devices): chip demand, export rules and supply drive chipmakers' shares. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story.
- TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing-8.8% 30d
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (semiconductors and related devices): chip demand, export rules and supply drive chipmakers' shares. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMH | +9.78% | +10.54% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| SOXX | +12.64% | +13.25% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| KWEB | -0.98% | -2.38% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XRT | -3.55% | -1.68% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| FXI | -2.20% | -1.54% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| ASML | +7.22% | +9.85% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| NVDA | +7.75% | +5.68% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| TSM | +9.59% | +8.27% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Market Call
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Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China Wccftech
Source: Wccftech
The price since 3 Nov 2026: Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH) versus the S&P 500
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asml Holding (ASML) | three days earlier | +9.85% | final price |
| Asml Holding (ASML) | five days earlier | +7.22% | final price |
| Ishares China Large-Cap Etf (FXI) | three days earlier | -1.54% | final price |
| Ishares China Large-Cap Etf (FXI) | five days earlier | -2.20% | final price |
| Kraneshares Csi China Internet Etf (KWEB) | three days earlier | -2.38% | final price |
| Kraneshares Csi China Internet Etf (KWEB) | five days earlier | -0.98% | final price |
| Nvidia (NVDA) | three days earlier | +5.68% | final price |
| Nvidia (NVDA) | five days earlier | +7.75% | final price |
| Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH) | three days earlier | +10.54% | final price |
| Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH) | five days earlier | +9.78% | final price |
| Ishares Tr (SOXX) | three days earlier | +13.25% | final price |
| Ishares Tr (SOXX) | five days earlier | +12.64% | final price |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) | three days earlier | +8.27% | final price |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) | five days earlier | +9.59% | final price |
| Spdr Series Trust (XRT) | three days earlier | -1.68% | final price |
| Spdr Series Trust (XRT) | five days earlier | -3.55% | final price |
Congressional trades in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Asml Holding (ASML) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Oct 2026. That is 11 days before publication. Filed 28 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul bought Asml Holding (ASML) (held by a spouse), worth $50,001 - $100,000 on 7 Aug 2026. That is 88 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Nvidia (NVDA) (held by a spouse), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 32 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Cleo Fields bought Nvidia (NVDA), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 1 Oct 2026. That is 33 days before publication. Filed 22 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Nvidia (NVDA) (held by a dependent child), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 41 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Cleo Fields bought Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 9 Oct 2026. That is 25 days before publication. Filed 22 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Gilbert Cisneros bought Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 22 Sep 2026. That is 42 days before publication. Filed 12 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Aug 2026. That is 70 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH)
Companies tied to this story
- SMH Vaneck Etf Trust
In “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China,” Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: VanEck Semiconductor ETF: it holds chipmakers. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story
- SOXX Ishares Tr
In “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China,” Ishares Tr (SOXX) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares Semiconductor ETF: it holds chipmakers. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story
- KWEB Kraneshares Csi China Internet Etf
In “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China,” Kraneshares Csi China Internet Etf (KWEB) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF: it holds Chinese internet companies. Linked by “china” (Chinese tech) in this story
- XRT Spdr Series Trust
In “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China,” Spdr Series Trust (XRT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Retail ETF: it holds retailers. Linked by “china” (retail and consumer goods) in this story
- FXI Ishares China Large-Cap Etf
Ishares China Large-Cap Etf (FXI) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 3 Nov 2026 story “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China.” Reason on file: iShares China Large-Cap ETF holds stocks listed in China, which this story is about (“china”)
- ASML Asml Holding
For “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China,” Asml Holding (ASML) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: ASML Holding N.V (special industry machinery): chip demand, export rules and supply drive chipmakers' shares. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story
- NVDA Nvidia
In “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China,” Nvidia (NVDA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Nvidia (semiconductors and related devices): chip demand, export rules and supply drive chipmakers' shares. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story
- TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
For “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China,” Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (semiconductors and related devices): chip demand, export rules and supply drive chipmakers' shares. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story
Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH)
On 3 Nov 2026, “Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China” is the story that connects Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH) to this story.
For Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH), the reason on file says VanEck Semiconductor ETF: it holds chipmakers. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story
Ishares Tr (SOXX) is here too. Its reason reads: iShares Semiconductor ETF: it holds chipmakers. Linked by “chips” (semiconductors) in this story
The price range for Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH), and the dates in the story
KWEB traded between 22.90 and 25.02 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 23.13. SMH traded between 511.68 and 639.33 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 522.89. SOXX traded between 460.13 and 596.35 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 471.44.
A simple score for Vaneck Etf Trust (SMH)
46 out of 100
“Smugglers Reportedly Pair Top-Tier HBM With Throwaway Server Chips To Dodge U.S. Export Controls, Then Melt Them Apart In China” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.