KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday amid mixed regional market performance as investors turned cautious over a possible rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and upcoming US economic data that may influence the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision next week. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) pared most earlier losses to settle 4.55 points easier, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,616.52 from Thursday’s close of 1,621.07. The benchmark index, which opened 0.37 of-a-point lower at 1,620.70, moved between 1,609.67 and 1,621.25 throughout the day. The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing advancers 604 to 439. A total of 550 counters were unchanged, 1,151 untraded, and 18 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.17 billion units worth RM2.24 billion from 4.48 billion units worth RM2.75 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-presiden...
AI Industry in a Geopolitical Crossfire
Alibaba's chairman, Joe Tsai, recently raised concerns over a potential AI spending bubble, adding a new layer of uncertainty to an already volatile market. During a Hong Kong investor conference, Tsai expressed astonishment at the massive capital outlays by U.S. tech giants in the AI and data center space, marking the latest example of how AI is turning into a geopolitical battleground, particularly between the U.S. and China.
Key Takeaways:
Tsai's Concerns About Overspending: Tsai cautioned that the AI boom might be unsustainable, signaling a global arms race for dominance in the sector. His comments come on the heels of similar warnings from Baidu’s CEO Robin Li, who noted that only a small percentage of companies in the AI space will actually create significant value.
Impact on Nvidia and Competitors: Tsai’s remarks appeared to influence market sentiment, with Nvidia(NVDA) shares dipping by 0.6%, Broadcom (AVGO) down 1.6%, and Micron (MU) falling 3%. Despite this, Nvidia stocks had previously gained earlier in the week, following announcements from its GTC conference, signaling the ongoing volatility in the sector.
Rising AI Competition: The Chinese tech sector, led by Alibaba, continues to ramp up AI spending, despite Tsai’s warnings. In fact, Alibaba recently announced plans to spend more on cloud and AI in the next three years than it has in the past decade—highlighting the potential disconnect between Tsai's cautious stance and Alibaba's actual investments.
Impact of U.S.-China Tensions: Beyond market jitters, investors are increasingly concerned about U.S.-China tensions, particularly the potential for stricter export controls on AI chips. These regulations, which could impact more than just Greater China, are set to come into effect in May, further complicating the outlook for U.S. tech suppliers, especially Nvidia.
A Challenging Future for Nvidia?
Nvidia's stock has already taken a hit in the last two months, down 19% since DeepSeek’s cost-effective AI development was revealed, showcasing the growing competition from Chinese tech companies. Despite these challenges, Nvidia remains an industry leader with ambitious plans to roll out new AI chips every year.
As AI continues to drive innovation and investment, the sector's volatility is expected to increase. Tsai’s caution may be a reflection of broader uncertainty in the global tech landscape, and how Nvidia navigates the growing competition from China could be a key factor in shaping its future.
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