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Key Takeaway Malaysia’s semiconductor sector may avoid the full impact of the proposed  100% U.S. chip tariff , with  up to 65% of exports potentially exempted  due to originating from U.S. firms operating in Malaysia, according to CIMB analysts. Tariff Exposure Around  65% of Malaysia’s chip exports to the U.S.  come from American companies with domestic facilities. An additional portion of the remaining 35% may also qualify for exemption due to U.S. ownership or linkages. Macro Sensitivity Every 10% of chip exports affected  could reduce  Malaysia’s GDP by 0.29% , highlighting the economy’s exposure to U.S. policy shifts. Analysts caution that while exemptions may soften short-term impact,  longer-term risks remain  as companies  reassess supply chain locations , potentially denting Malaysia’s investment outlook. Policy & Outlook CIMB holds its  2025 GDP growth forecast at 4.3% . Expects  Bank Negara Malaysia to keep the ...

SoftBank is back in the AI spotlight —  raising its Nvidia stake to $3B  and taking new positions in  TSMC ($330M)  and  Oracle ($170M) . Masayoshi Son is assembling an AI hardware empire around  Arm Holdings , betting big on the tech fueling the next industrial revolution. AI-Driven Portfolio Moves Nvidia: ▲ stake to  $3B  (up from $1B) TSMC: 🆕 stake worth  $330M Oracle: 🆕 stake worth  $170M Vision Fund: Monetized nearly  $2B  in 1H2025   “Nvidia is the picks and shovels for the gold rush of AI,”  says Tenacity VC’s Ben Narasin Son’s play? Access, influence — and perhaps front-of-line access to Nvidia’s cutting-edge chips. Arm Holdings: The Central Pillar SoftBank owns ~90% of $148B-valued Arm IP powers most  mobile chips  and increasingly  AI server chips Positioning: A chip IP kingmaker,  without  being a manufacturer Mega Projects in Motion $500B  Stargate AI Data Center  with ...

STMicroelectronics  reported a  US$133 million loss in Q2 , marking its  first quarterly loss in more than 10 years , as  restructuring and impairment costs  weighed heavily on its bottom line— missing analyst expectations  by a wide margin. Shares in the  Franco-Italian chipmaker  plunged  11%  in early trade, setting course for their  worst trading day since July 2024 . What Went Wrong? Analysts had forecast a profit of  US$56.2 million , but instead STMicro posted a  US$133 million loss . The company revealed  US$190 million in restructuring and impairment charges . Excluding those costs, STMicro says it would have posted a  US$57 million profit . A Manufacturing Model Under Pressure STMicro’s  80% reliance on in-house manufacturing  has turned into a burden during the slowdown, leading to  underutilized factories and higher labor costs  — unlike peers like  Infineon  or  NXP...

SkyeChip Sdn. , a semiconductor design firm, is reportedly  considering an initial public offering (IPO)  in Malaysia, targeting a valuation of over  1 billion ringgit  (approximately  $226 million ). The company is aiming to launch the IPO in the  second half of 2025 , though the timing and offering size may change as discussions continue. Key Points : Company Background : Founded in 2019,  SkyeChip  specializes in chip design, and is well-positioned to benefit from Malaysia's growing semiconductor ambitions. The government is keen to support local companies in  designing their own chips , with a goal to achieve  1.2 trillion ringgit  in semiconductor exports by  2030 . Malaysia's Semiconductor Goals : Malaysia, which packages around  10%  of the world's semiconductors, has signed a  $250 million agreement  with  SoftBank Group’s Arm Holdings  to gain access to semiconductor licenses and expertise...