Mastodawn

The suspension of oil from Qatar has provided a realistic preview for Taiwan of a possible Chinese blockade, which would throttle an economy anchored by the world's most advanced and power-hungry semiconductor industry. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/07/asia-pacific/hormuz-taiwan-silicon-shield/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #us #donaldtrump #middleeast #iran #straitofhormuz #semiconductors #chipmakers #tsmc #china #taiwan

Hormuz crisis shows gaps in Taiwan’s high-tech ‘silicon shield’

The factors that make Taiwan an economic powerhouse — its successful technology industry and artificial intelligence-driven chipmaking — are also the ones making it vulnerable.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times 18h ago

This earnings season has delivered plenty of good news for the artificial intelligence trade, but instead of bidding up Nvidia shares, investors have been dumping them. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/06/nvidia-competition-investors/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #nvidia #alphabet #chipmakers

Nvidia is facing more competition and it’s spooking investors

Nvidia's grip on the AI processor market is seen as increasingly under threat from other chipmakers as well as its biggest customers.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times 4d ago

The list of Asian stocks that benefit from business partnership with Nvidia is getting longer, as the region further integrates into the AI chip giant's business ecosystem. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/03/nvidia-ai-asia-rally/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #nvidia #tech #chipmakers #lg #ai #stocks

Nvidia’s push into physical AI sparks rally in Asian partners

Nvidia-induced demand is shaping stock performance across Asia's technology supply chain.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times Apr 29

The U.S. Department of Commerce last week ordered multiple chip equipment companies to halt certain tool shipments to China's second-largest chipmaker, Hua Hong. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/04/29/tech/us-companies-china-chipmaker-hua-hong/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #semiconductors #ai #chipmakers #internet #china #us #trade

U.S. orders chip equipment companies to halt some shipments to China's Hua Hong

The move is the latest U.S. action to slow China's development of advanced chips, two people familiar with the matter said.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times Apr 25

Denso is set to withdraw its proposal to take over semiconductor maker Rohm, as the two sides were unable to see eye to eye on an offer, the Nikkei daily has reported. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/04/25/companies/denso-withdraw-proposal-rohm/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #denso #rohm #mergers #acquisitions #tech #chipmakers

Denso to withdraw proposal to take over Rohm, report says

Denso was unable to get Rohm's support for the acquisition, the Nikkei daily reported.

The Japan Times

Winbuzzer Apr 17

https://winbuzzer.com/2026/04/17/intel-launches-core-series-3-budget-ai-laptops-xcxwbn/

Intel Unveils Core Series 3 for Mainstream AI PCs

#IntelCPUs #Intel #Processors #CPUs #CoreSeries3 #Semiconductors #Chipmakers #ChipIndustry #NPUs

The Japan Times Apr 15

A memory chip crunch fueled by the artificial intelligence boom is hindering efforts to bring more people online worldwide, according to the GSMA telecoms industry association. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/04/15/tech/ai-chip-shortage-world-online-gsma/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #semiconductors #ai #chipmakers #internet #amazon

AI-driven chip shortage slowing efforts to get world online: GSMA

Chipmakers are producing fewer less-flashy chips that are used in everyday consumer electronics as they prioritize the lucrative artificial intelligence industry.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times Apr 11

Japan approved ¥631.5 billion in additional subsidies to quicken Rapidus' entry into the intensely competitive AI chipmaking arena. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/04/11/companies/rapidus-japan-subsidies/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #rapidus #chipmakers #tech #tsmc #hokkaido

Japan bets ¥632 billion to propel startup Rapidus into global AI chip race

The move ramps up financial support for a signature project widely regarded as a long shot.

The Japan Times

The Bad Place Apr 6

Yahoo Finance | Billionaire Philippe Laffont Sold CoreWeave and Bought This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Instead

Billionaire Philippe Laffont sold Coatue Management's stake in CoreWeave (CRWV), the AI data center company it had backed since 2024 and which became its largest holding, after the stock fell about 50% from its peak following construction delays and concerns over its high leverage and cash flow negative profile despite strong AI-driven demand and a growing revenue backlog.

Instead, Laffont significantly increased Coatue's position in Applied Materials (AMAT), the world's largest wafer fabrication equipment provider, citing its critical role in supplying chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor and Micron as they expand capacity to meet surging demand for AI accelerators and high-bandwidth memory, with Applied expecting over 20% equipment business growth in 2026 and continued momentum into 2027.

Applied Materials trades at 30 times forward earnings, which Laffont views as attractive given its growth outlook and margin expansion potential, with analysts forecasting 25% earnings-per-share growth in 2027, reinforcing his strategy of shifting from high-risk, pre-profit AI infrastructure plays to more established, essential suppliers in the AI supply chain.

#philippelaffont #appliedmaterials #taiwansemiconductor #ai #chipmakers