The memory chip sector is experiencing a significant pre-market rally, driven by a strong demand outlook for DRAM and NAND, particularly from the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout. Market research from TrendForce indicates a forecasted 15% to 20% sequential increase in NAND contract prices for the fourth quarter of 2026. This sentiment is bolstered by reports of tight supply for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a key component in AI accelerators, with some manufacturers reportedly selling out their 2027 supply at elevated prices.