KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- Last-minute buying lifted Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index, reversing earlier losses as higher oil prices boosted sentiment for energy- and chemical-related counters. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said regional markets remained under pressure following negative cues from Wall Street, compounded by surging oil prices, mixed earnings, and a cautious US Federal Reserve stance. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased 1.60 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 1,722.02 from Wednesday’s close of 1,720.42. The benchmark index opened marginally lower at 1,720.23 and moved between a low of 1,712.14 and a high of 1,722.03 throughout the day. Market breadth, however, was negative, with losers trouncing gainers 816 to 360. A total of 546 counters were unchanged, 950 were untraded, and 77 were suspended. Turnover declined to 2.91 billion un...
Quick Summary
TSMC’s January revenue jumped 37% YoY, beating expectations
AI-driven demand is keeping capacity tight and sales strong
Potential US tariff exemptions could further boost demand from Big Tech
Stock is already up 17% year-to-date
What’s Driving TSMC Higher
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co reported January revenue of NT$401.6 billion (US$12.7bn):
+20% quarter-on-quarter
+37% year-on-year
The pace of growth is ahead of TSMC’s own ~30% full-year growth guidance, reinforcing its central role in the global semiconductor supply chain.
AI Demand Keeps Capex Elevated
TSMC recently announced:
Up to US$56 billion in capex for 2026, +30% vs last year
High investment levels expected for the next three years
The spending spree reflects relentless demand for AI chips, particularly from hyperscalers and data-centre operators.
Tariff Relief: A Possible Bonus
According to the Financial Times, major US tech firms may be exempt from upcoming semiconductor tariffs, linked to TSMC’s pledge to invest US$165 billion in US manufacturing.
Why this matters:
If exemptions are granted, TSMC’s American customers could avoid cost increases, potentially pulling forward more orders.
Who Relies on TSMC
TSMC is a critical supplier to:
Nvidia (AI accelerators)
Apple (iPhone processors)
Qualcomm (mobile chipsets)
Advanced Micro Devices (CPUs, GPUs)
This makes TSMC one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global AI buildout.
Market Takeaway
Revenue momentum confirms AI demand remains red-hot
Tariff exemptions could be an upside catalyst
Heavy capex signals confidence, not caution
With its unmatched scale and customer base, TSMC remains the backbone of the AI semiconductor boom.
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