SK hynix shares tumbled 8.02% in intraday trading on Thursday, as a confluence of negative catalysts from both the broader memory chip sector and company-specific developments rattled investor sentiment.

The selloff was triggered by disappointing forward guidance from US memory chip makers SanDisk Corp. and Western Digital. Although both companies reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue and profit that exceeded market expectations, their outlook for the next quarter fell short of the high growth forecasts for the AI memory segment. SanDisk shares plunged over 8% in after-hours trading, while Western Digital dropped approximately 11%. The bearish sentiment quickly spread through the supply chain to Asia-Pacific markets, with South Korea's KOSPI index slumping more than 5% intraday and triggering a SIDECAR mechanism that temporarily halted programmatic sell orders.

Adding to the pressure, SK hynix is facing multiple company-specific headwinds. Uncertainty surrounds subsidiary Solidigm's reported pre-IPO financing plans, as the company seeks a 50 trillion Korean won valuation ahead of a potential Nasdaq listing, with SK hynix stating it is considering various options and has made no final decision. Meanwhile, a Korean shareholder group has filed criminal charges against the CEO alleging breach of fiduciary duty related to bonus arrangements, with police launching an investigation. Additionally, the company's labor union rejected management's proposal to distribute more than half of bonuses as restricted stock, warning of potential further action.