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Chairman  Chey Tae-won  of SK Group pledged to ramp up production of AI memory chips as global demand from data centres continues to surge. The commitment underscores how critical  high-bandwidth memory (HBM)  has become in the artificial intelligence supply chain. “Monster Chip” Driving Record Profits Chey described HBM as a  “monster chip”  generating enormous profits for  SK Hynix . Key developments: SK Hynix shares have  more than quadrupled  over the past year 2026 capital expenditure will rise significantly 2026 HBM production is already  fully sold out HBM chips are essential for AI accelerators designed by firms like  Nvidia Corp , enabling large-scale model training and inference. AI Spending Wave Fuels Chip Shortage US tech giants including  Microsoft Corp  and  Meta Platforms Inc  are collectively spending about  US$650 billion  this year on AI infrastructure. This spending spree has: Trigger...

Shares of  Samsung Electronics Co Ltd  surged after a report said the company is set to  begin mass production of next-generation HBM4 memory chips , a critical component in artificial intelligence infrastructure. According to Yonhap News, Samsung plans to  ship HBM4 chips to  NVIDIA Corp  as early as the  third week of February , where the chips will be used in Nvidia’s upcoming  Vera Rubin AI accelerators . The report cited people familiar with the matter. Samsung’s stock climbed as much as  6.4% , extending its strong 2026 rally to nearly  40% year-to-date , as investors welcomed signs the company is  closing the gap with rival  SK hynix Inc , currently Nvidia’s main supplier of high-bandwidth memory. The move comes amid a broader boom in memory prices, driven by  exploding demand from hyperscalers  such as  Amazon.com Inc  and  Alphabet Inc , which are racing to build AI data centres. Prices for som...

Simple Summary AMD shares have more than doubled over the past 12 months Q4 earnings are expected to show strong profit and revenue growth Technical indicators remain bullish , but expectations are mixed Earnings reaction is the key near-term risk What’s Driving the Story High-end chipmaker  Advanced Micro Devices  has surged  100%+ year-on-year , beating the S&P 500 and hitting an  all-time high in October . With Q4 earnings due after the bell, investors are now focused on whether results can justify the rally. Earnings Expectations (Q4) Adjusted EPS:   US$1.32  (≈  +21% YoY ) Revenue:   ~US$9.7B  (≈  +26% YoY ) What stands out is  analyst uncertainty : 18 analysts raised estimates 16 cut forecasts Only 3 stayed unchanged Takeaway:  Expectations are high, but conviction is split. What the Chart Is Saying Despite volatility since October, AMD’s chart still leans bullish: Shares reclaimed the 21-day EMA and 50-day SMA A “min...

China has  conditionally approved  its leading AI startup  DeepSeek  to purchase  Nvidia ’s  H200 artificial intelligence chips , a move that could significantly shape China’s next phase of AI development — and intensify US-China tech scrutiny. What Happened Chinese authorities granted  conditional approval  for DeepSeek to buy Nvidia’s  H200 AI chips Regulatory conditions are still being finalised , according to sources Approvals were issued by China’s industry and commerce ministries, with conditions set by the  National Development and Reform Commission The H200 is Nvidia’s  second most powerful AI chip  and has become a sensitive focal point in  US–China tech relations . Bigger Picture: Not Just DeepSeek Reuters previously reported that: ByteDance Alibaba Tencent were also given approval to collectively purchase  over 400,000 H200 chips , though shipments remain subject to final regulatory sign-off. Nvidia: Licenc...

The US has imposed a  25% tariff on a narrow category of advanced semiconductors , a move closely tied to a deal that allows  Nvidia  to resume shipments of its Taiwan-made H200 AI chips to China — marking a major shift in Washington’s tech trade strategy. What’s the Deal? The tariff applies to  specific high-end AI processors , including Nvidia’s  H200  and  Advanced Micro Devices ’s  MI325X . The duty is collected  when chips enter the US , before being re-exported to China or other overseas markets. In return, Nvidia received approval in December to sell H200 chips to China, subject to export licences. President Donald Trump described the arrangement as a win-win: “China wants them… and we are going to be making 25% of the sale of those chips.” Why This Matters This is  not a blanket chip tariff . Instead, the US is: Holding off broader semiconductor levies following a national security probe Using  targeted tariffs + licensing c...

The  Trump administration is nearing a trade deal with Taiwan  that could  lower US tariffs  on Taiwanese goods and unlock a  massive new wave of chip investment  by  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co  (TSMC) in the United States, according to Bloomberg. What’s on the Table Tariffs on Taiwanese imports  could be  cut to 15% from 20% , putting Taiwan on par with  Japan and South Korea , which secured similar deals last year. In return,  TSMC would commit to building at least four additional chip fabs in Arizona , on top of: Six fabs  already announced Two advanced packaging facilities If finalised, the agreement could be announced  as early as this month . Why This Is a Big Deal US Chip Investment Could Exceed US$100 Billion TSMC has already pledged  up to US$165 billion  for US manufacturing. With  each fab costing over US$20 billion , the four new plants could push  total incremental investmen...

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company  (TSMC)  will report its  Q4 earnings on January 15 , taking center stage as the most critical “pick-and-shovel” play in the global AI boom. With AI chip demand accelerating and expectations running high, investors are less focused on headline numbers and more on  forward guidance, capacity expansion, and long-term AI visibility . Options Market: Caution Ahead of Earnings The derivatives market is signalling  defensive positioning  into the print: Put/Call ratio:   1.64  on open interest of 1.76 million contracts Implied volatility:   43.33% , well above historical volatility of 31.25% IV Percentile:   67% , indicating options are moderately expensive This suggests institutions are  hedging against downside risk , even if results come in strong — a sign that expectations for guidance may be difficult to exceed. Q4 Financial Expectations (Consensus) Revenue US$32.38bn  (+20% YoY, -2% Qo...

US President Donald Trump has approved Nvidia Corp’s request to export its  H200 artificial intelligence chips  to China, in exchange for a  25% cut of all sales  — a major win for the world’s most valuable chipmaker and a potential reopening of a multibillion-dollar market it lost under previous export restrictions. Trump announced the decision on his Truth Social account after weeks of internal deliberations. He said he had already informed Chinese President Xi Jinping, who responded positively, and stressed that shipments would only go to  “approved customers.”  Trump added that Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) would also be eligible to sell chips under the same arrangement. “We will protect national security, create American jobs and keep America’s lead in AI,” Trump wrote. He emphasised that Nvidia’s newest and most advanced chips —  Blackwell  and its upcoming  Rubin  line — remain prohibited from export under the deal. A Str...

 US federal prosecutors have charged four men — two Chinese nationals and two Americans — for allegedly smuggling millions of dollars’ worth of Nvidia’s advanced AI chips to China, in direct violation of US export controls aimed at curbing Beijing’s technological and military progress. According to an indictment unsealed Wednesday, the group used a fake real-estate company in Tampa, Florida, as a front to route hundreds of high-performance GPUs through Malaysia before sending them to buyers in China. No export licences were sought from the US Commerce Department, as required under national-security restrictions introduced in 2022. The case underscores Washington’s growing concern that China is finding workarounds to access US semiconductor technology despite sweeping export rules. Beijing’s rapid AI development — including the launch of the DeepSeek chatbot earlier this year — has amplified scrutiny over chip diversion. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed the issue on Bloomberg TV af...

Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC)  is in  preliminary discussions  to acquire  SambaNova Systems Inc , a Silicon Valley AI chip startup that has been seeking buyers, according to  Bloomberg . Early-Stage Negotiations Sources familiar with the matter said  Intel and SambaNova  are discussing potential terms, though talks remain  in the early stages  and  no deal has been finalized . The valuation would likely come in  below the US$5 billion  SambaNova achieved in its 2021 fundraising round. The company has been working with bankers to explore acquisition options, and other bidders could still emerge. Both  Intel  and  SambaNova  declined to comment. Strategic Fit for Intel For Intel, acquiring SambaNova would align with its push to  strengthen AI computing capabilities  and compete more effectively with  Nvidia Corp , the market leader in AI processors. Intel’s CEO  Lip-Bu Tan  has deep ties ...

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)  shares surged  7.7% to US$234.98  on Wednesday after  HSBC analyst Frank Lee raised his price target to  US$310  from  US$185 , maintaining a  Buy  rating. Lee said AMD’s recent deal with  OpenAI  implies a  massive AI revenue upside  that is still “underestimated by consensus.” He estimates the partnership could generate  US$80 billion  in chip revenue over the next five years. The agreement will see OpenAI deploy  six gigawatts of AMD GPUs —starting with  MI450 GPU servers  in the  second half of 2026 . Lee added that the MI450 is expected to  rival Nvidia’s products  when launched late next year. Meanwhile, AMD and  Oracle  also announced an expanded  AI infrastructure partnership , with Oracle set to deploy tens of thousands of AMD GPUs from  Q3 2026 . The  Nasdaq Composite  rose  0.6%  while  Nvidia ...

Key Takeaway Broadcom (AVGO) delivered strong Q3 earnings, but the real spotlight is a  $10 billion AI chip order  — reportedly from OpenAI — which sets up fiscal 2026 for accelerated growth. Q3 Earnings Snapshot Revenue : $15.95B (+22% YoY, +6% QoQ), slightly above guidance. Gross Margin : 67.1% (+3.2 ppts YoY, -0.9 ppts QoQ). Non-GAAP Net Income : $8.4B (+56% YoY, +8% QoQ), narrowly topping estimates. Semiconductors : $9.2B revenue (+26% YoY), with AI chips contributing $5.2B (+63% YoY). Software : $6.8B revenue (+17% YoY), with high margins (93% GM). AI the Main Driver $10B order  from a fourth major customer (likely OpenAI) adds to Broadcom’s AI pipeline alongside Google, Meta, and ByteDance. AI XPU chips led growth, contributing ~65% of AI revenue and growing 28% sequentially. Broadcom disclosed a  $110B backlog , with AI-related orders now outweighing non-AI. Non-AI Segment Still Weak Non-AI semiconductor revenue (~$4.0B) remains soft. Broadband showed resilien...

Key Takeaway OpenAI is working with Broadcom to design and produce its own  AI chips starting in 2026 , a move that could shake up Nvidia’s dominance in the accelerator market. The first chips are expected to ship next year and will initially be used internally. What’s Happening Partnership:  OpenAI will leverage Broadcom’s expertise to bring custom AI accelerators to market. Competition:  The chips are designed to rival Nvidia’s GPUs, which currently lead the AI hardware space. Broadcom’s Confirmation:  CEO Hock Tan said Thursday that one prospective customer (likely OpenAI) has already released  production orders , boosting its fiscal 2026 AI revenue outlook. Market Impact Broadcom (AVGO):  Likely to benefit from long-term AI demand beyond just hyperscalers. Nvidia (NVDA):  Faces potential competition if OpenAI chips prove efficient and scalable. AI Ecosystem:  More custom-built chips could diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on Nvidia. ...

US President Donald Trump vowed to impose new  tariffs and export restrictions on advanced technology and semiconductors  in retaliation against foreign digital services taxes that he says unfairly target American tech giants. In a social media post on Monday, Trump called the measures “discriminatory” and said they “outrageously give a complete pass to China’s largest tech companies.” He warned that unless such taxes are withdrawn, Washington would hit offending nations with  “substantial additional tariffs” on exports to the US , alongside curbs on  “highly protected technology and chips.” Rising Trade Frictions The move adds fresh uncertainty for global trade partners, coming just weeks after Trump rolled out country-based levies on imports and vowed further duties, including on furniture. The president has long argued that digital taxes penalize US firms such as  Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms , while sparing Chinese rivals. The US has already deployed...

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) has confirmed that any artificial intelligence (AI) projects utilising Huawei chips in Malaysia are  private-sector driven  and not government initiatives. In a parliamentary reply, Miti stressed the clarification was necessary to prevent misinformation and address sensitivities around ongoing geopolitical issues. “The selection and use of AI technologies by the private sector are based on individual companies’ strategic decisions and are not under government control,” the ministry stated. Strategic Export Controls Implemented Miti highlighted that it has enacted the  Directive of the Strategic Trade Controller No 1/2025 , effective July 14, requiring companies intending to export, transit, or transfer advanced AI chips meeting specified technical criteria to seek permit approval. The move follows a  risk-based assessment of the global trade landscape  and aims to ensure Malaysia is not used as a transshipmen...

Tesla (TSLA)  surged over  4%  Monday after Elon Musk announced that  Samsung  will manufacture the EV maker’s next-generation  AI6 chips . The decision pushed  TSMC (TSM)  down about  1.2%  as Tesla passed on using its fabrication services for the project. Key Highlights Tesla Stock:  Rose to $328.00 after the announcement, reversing some of last week’s post-earnings losses. Samsung:  Shares in South Korea jumped  6.8%  on news its Texas fab will be dedicated to Tesla’s AI chips. TSMC:  Dropped 1.2% to 242.65 as investors priced in lost Tesla chip orders. Musk called the move “strategically critical,” noting that Tesla will actively assist Samsung in ramping production and efficiency: “Samsung’s giant new Texas fab will be dedicated to making Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chip. The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate.” Why It Matters The AI6 chips will power Tesla’s vehicles and  Optimus humanoi...

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC)  is doubling down on its currency risk management as foreign exchange (FX) volatility emerges as a major threat to its margins. CFO Wendell Huang said Friday that the company will  constantly review and adjust its hedging strategies  to offset the impact of a surging Taiwan dollar. 🗣️  “FX is a big uncertainty we cannot control,”  said Huang.  “But we’ve managed to sustain profitability in the past by leveraging other operational factors—and that’s what we aim to continue doing.”   A Multi-Pronged FX Hedging Approach TSMC’s strategy includes: Selling USD in the spot market Using forward contracts Moving US dollar cash holdings into an offshore holding company  with USD-denominated financials This approach is meant to buffer against currency swings that could otherwise erode earnings. The company’s recent Q2 earnings beat and upward revision of 2025 revenue guidance underscore its strong fundamentals, l...

As the Q2 earnings season kicks off, all eyes are on  Big Tech , with Netflix set to report first on July 17. These earnings are poised to shape broader market sentiment amid ongoing economic uncertainty and aggressive U.S. tariff policies. Despite macro headwinds, the outlook for tech giants remains relatively strong — especially in  AI chips ,  cloud services , and  digital advertising . Key Standouts from Q2 Estimates (YoY Growth) Company Revenue Growth EPS Growth Nvidia (NVDA) +51.86% +38.66% Netflix (NFLX) +15.53% +44.80% Meta (META) +14.25% +13.68% Microsoft (MSFT) +14.02% +14.45% Alphabet (GOOGL) +10.73% +14.92% On the flip side: Tesla (TSLA)  is expected to report a  -12.04% revenue drop  and a  -20.52% EPS slump , weighed by weak EV sales. Apple (AAPL)  is also seeing soft momentum with  3.49% revenue growth , signaling slower iPhone shipments. AI Is the Center of Gravity Nvidia  remains the flagship AI play. Explosive dema...