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☆ ASML: Steps made towards deal on curbing exports to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

THE HAGUE, Jan 28 (Reuters) - ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS) said on Saturday it understood progress had been made towards an agreement among several governments on new restrictions on semiconductor manufacturing equipment exports to China. ASML, a key supplier to chipmakers, has been restricted from selling its most advanced tools to China since 2019. Tensions between the United States and China over semiconductors have steadily worsened since then, prompting Washington in October to impose export restrictions on its own chip manufacturing equipment companies. "It is our understanding that steps have been made towards an agreement between governments which, to our understanding, will be focused on advanced chip manufacturing technology, including but not limited to advanced lithography tools," ASML said. Its statement follows a Bloomberg report on Friday that said the United States, Japan and the Netherlands had reached an agreement following months of talks.

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Intel Corp (INTC.O) was set to erase nearly $10 billion in market value on Friday after the U.S. chipmaker stumped Wall Street with dismal earnings projections, fanning fears around a slump in the personal-computer market. The company predicted a surprise loss for the first quarter and its revenue forecast was $3 billion below estimates as it also struggled with slowing growth in the data center business. The company has been steadily losing market share to rivals like AMD, which has used contract chipmakers such as Taiwan-based TSMC (2330.TW) to make chips that outpace Intel's technology. Intel, which plans to cut $3 billion in costs this year, generated $7.7 billion in cash from operations in the fourth quarter and paid dividends of $1.5 billion. With capital expenditure estimated to be around $20 billion in 2023, analysts said the company should consider cutting its dividend.

☆ Intel's 'historic collapse' triggers selloff in chip stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Aditya Soni | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company predicted a surprise loss for the first quarter and its revenue forecast was $3 billion below estimates as it also struggled with slowing growth in the data center business. "No words can portray or explain the historic collapse of Intel," said Rosenblatt Securities' Hans Mosesmann, who was among the 21 analysts who cut their price targets on the stock. The company has steadily been losing market share to rivals like AMD, which has used contract chipmakers such as Taiwan-based TSMC (2330.TW) to make chips that outpace its technology. "AMD's Genoa and Bergamo (data center) chips have a strong price-performance advantage compared to Intel's Sapphire Rapids processors, which should drive further AMD share gains," said Matt Wegner, analyst at YipitData. With capital expenditure estimated to be around $20 billion in 2023, analysts say the company should consider cutting its dividend.

☆ Dutch PM Rutte: may not disclose result of U.S. chip export control talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday that it is not clear whether his government will disclose the result of ongoing talks with the U.S. over new export restrictions for the semiconductor industry. A Dutch delegation is in the U.S. on Friday for talks. "Those talks have been going on for a long time and we're not saying anything about it," Rutte said. Asked whether ASML would not need to be informed of the decision in order to implement new restrictions, Rutte said government communications with the company "are also private." Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg, Toby Sterling, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Andrew KellyOAKLAND, Calif/BANGALORE, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Microprocessor giant Intel Corp (INTC.O) says it will regain its footing against AMD and other chip rivals which are gobbling up market share, but Wall Street is skeptical. That's a headwind for Intel and AMD, both of which are rolling out new chips, but Intel is facing a larger inventory correction. Intel still dominates the markets for PC and server processing chips, with a market share greater than 70%, tech research firm IDC calculated. Chipmaker shares were hammered across the board on Friday, but Intel led the decline, slumping by 10% while AMD lost 1.8%. AMD set to overtake Intel in market cap, again AMD set to overtake Intel in market cap, againReporting By Jane Lanhee Lee and Chavi Mehta; Editing by David Gaffen, Peter Henderson, Kirsten Donovan and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Intel Corp (INTC.O) saw about $8 billion wiped off its market value on Friday after the U.S. chipmaker stumped Wall Street with dismal earnings projections, fanning fears around a slump in the personal-computer market. The company predicted a surprise loss for the first quarter and its revenue forecast was $3 billion below estimates as it also struggled with slowing growth in the data center business. The company has been steadily losing market share to rivals like AMD, which has used contract chipmakers such as Taiwan-based TSMC (2330.TW) to make chips that outpace Intel's technology. Intel, which plans to cut $3 billion in costs this year, generated $7.7 billion in cash from operations in the fourth quarter and paid dividends of $1.5 billion. With capital expenditure estimated to be around $20 billion in 2023, analysts said the company should consider cutting its dividend.

☆ Intel's 'historic collapse' sparks selloff in chip stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"No words can portray or explain the historic collapse of Intel," said Hans Mosesmann, analyst at Rosenblatt Securities, who was among the 16 analysts who cut their price targets on the stock. "AMD's Genoa and Bergamo chips have a strong price-performance advantage compared to Intel's Sapphire Rapids processors, which should drive further AMD share gains," said Matt Wegner, analyst at YipitData. Intel's results are also expected to sharply reduce the cash flow available to the company at a time when the CEO is trying to revive the business by expanding contract manufacturing and building new factories in the United States and Europe. "It is now clear why Intel needs to cut so much cost as the company's original plans prove to be fantasy," Bernstein analysts said. Reporting by Aditya Soni, Nivedita Balu and Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Intel is becoming accidental ad for friendshoring
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Its plan to catch up to rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (2330.TW) in technology and manufacturing prowess, always ambitious, now looks implausible. If the U.S. government is keen to nurture a domestic chip industry, Intel is becoming an accidental advertisement for friendshoring. And as the building of data centers has cooled, revenue at the Intel unit that makes chips for them declined 33%. The bigger problem for Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger is that its chief rival TSMC is still making strides, and producing smaller chips, at just 3 nanometers. Intel estimated first-quarter revenue would be between $10.5 billion and $11.5 billion.

OAKLAND, Calif/BANGALORE, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Microprocessor giant Intel Corp (INTC.O) has stumbled badly at a time when smaller rival AMD and others are picking up speed. Intel still dominates the markets for PC and server processing chips, with a market share greater than 70%, tech research firm IDC calculated. "I don't think Intel is in a position yet to start recovering share" in the market, he said. Customers of processors cannot launch products if new chip designs are late, and Intel has stumbled on delivering its latest data-center chip, code named Sapphire Rapids. Worse for Intel, the benchmarks published by the two companies show that AMD's latest server chip outperforms Sapphire Rapids on "general purpose workloads", according to Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon.

"Everything hinges on the PC market recovery. Meanwhile, the data center market has also slowed from double-digit growth as businesses cut costs to ride out an economic slowdown. The company forecast first-quarter revenue in the range of about $10.5 billion to $11.5 billion. The company expects an adjusted loss of 15 cents per share versus expectations of a 24 cents per share profit. Revenue in the fourth quarter fell 32% to $14 billion.

"Everything hinges on the PC market recovery. AMD isn’t immune to this either," said Wayne Lam, an analyst at CCS Insight about Intel rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD.O). Shares of other microchip companies fell as well, with AMD down 2.4% and Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) down 2%. PC shipments fell 16.5% to 292.3 million units in 2022, per data from research firm IDC, forcing chipmakers to cut back production and slash revenue forecasts. Meanwhile, the data center market has also slowed from double-digit growth as businesses look to cut costs to ride out an economic slowdown.

☆ Factbox: What is a chip making tool?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WHAT ARE CHIP-MAKING TOOLS? A single chip factory can contain 1,000 or more tools, each tuned to a different step in the process. The biggest and most sophisticated lithography machines require three Boeing 747s to carry them in sections and can cost as much as $160 million. The raft of measures, if effective, could hobble China's chip manufacturing industry by forcing American and foreign companies that use U.S. technology to cut off support for some of China's leading factories and chip designers. But to be effective, the United States needs the Netherlands and Japan to jump on board with similar restrictions.

☆ Texas Instruments signals expanding pain for chipmakers with somber forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Chavi Mehta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 24 (Reuters) - Texas Instruments (TXN.O) forecast first-quarter revenue and profit largely below Wall Street targets on Tuesday, as an economic downturn threatens to shackle demand from the chipmaker's so far resilient markets. Order cancellations rose during the fourth quarter, head of investor relations Dave Pahl told analysts in an earnings call. Total revenue fell 3% to $4.67 billion in the quarter, compared with estimates of $4.62 billion. Texas Instruments expects revenue of $4.17 billion to $4.53 billion in the first quarter, the mid-point of which is lower than estimates of $4.41 billion, according to Refinitiv data. It expects current-quarter earnings per share between $1.64 and $1.90, the mid-point of which also fell short of expectations of $1.87.

☆ Morning bid: Cloudy outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

And deep in the weeds of the fourth-quarter corporate earnings season, Microsoft's (MSFT.O) overnight rollercoaster probably defines the uncertainty. Microsoft stock surged almost 5% in after-hours trading on Tuesday after its bottom line beat the Street consensus. The mixed earnings picture dampened early week enthusiasm surrounding tech stocks and chipmakers. The chance it may force the Reserve Bank of Australia to lift interest rates again boosted the Aussie dollar. Key developments that may provide direction to U.S. markets later on Wednesday:* Bank of Canada policy decision.

☆ ASML CEO expects steady China sales in 2023 despite restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies ASML sees 2023 China sales around 2022 level of 2.2 bln eurosChinese orders make up about 15% of ASML backlogChinese chipmakers are simply shifting investment -CEOAMSTERDAM, Jan 25 (Reuters) - ASML Holding NV's (ASML.AS) exports to mainland China will likely hold at last year's level in 2023 despite ongoing U.S-Dutch government talks over new restrictions on the company's sales to the country, CEO Peter Wennink said on Wednesday. The company still sends older DUV machines to China, although these are now a focus of the U.S.-Dutch talks. Such sales totalled around 2.16 billion euros ($2.35 billion), or 14% of total revenue, last year, down marginally from 2.17 billion in 2021. "They just become very practical," he said, adding that Chinese customers are investing in 20 nanometre chips and larger - those considered cutting edge before the year 2014. ($1 = 0.9175 euros)Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Industrial conglomerate 3M Co (MMM.N) fell 5.9%, leading the decliners among Dow components after reporting a fall in quarterly profit. General Electric Co (GE.N) fell 1.1% on a disappointing profit forecast for the year, despite topping quarterly earnings estimates. Big Tech earnings could also determine whether renewed enthusiasm for growth stocks will be sustained. "In the near-term, the answer seemingly lies with tech earnings ... longer-term, if we do experience a Fed pivot this year, then would anticipate a strong, positive buying impulse for tech," JPMorgan analysts wrote in a client note. Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) is scheduled to report quarterly earnings after the bell.

Industrial conglomerate 3M Co (MMM.N) fell 4.7%, leading the decliners among Dow components in premarket trading, after reporting a fall in quarterly profit. General Electric Co (GE.N) rose 2.2% as it topped quarterly profit estimates, boosted by strong demand for its engines and after-market services. Wall Street's main indexes started the earnings-heavy week on solid ground amid renewed appetite for growth stocks following a battering last year. Shares of Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), which is scheduled to report quarterly earnings after the bell, were flat. Big Tech earnings could also determine whether renewed enthusiasm for growth stocks will be sustained.

☆ Stocks, euro gain as Fed, ECB rate hike outlooks diverge
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Herbert Lash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] A new 100-euro banknote is presented at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, September 17, 2018. In Europe, technology firms also spearheaded gains as optimism about Europe likely avoiding a steep recession overshadowed recent hawkish remarks from ECB officials. Investors are waiting for euro zone and U.S. flash PMI data on Tuesday, which are expected to show less severe economic contractions than the previous month, according to analysts polled by Reuters. The difference in expectations for Fed and ECB policy led the euro to hit $1.0927 as it climbs from a two-decade low of $0.953 set in September. Euro zone bonds were little changed, with the benchmark 10-year German yield at 2.209% .

All of the 11 major S&P 500 sector indexes were up by early afternoon trading, with a 2.5% rise in tech stocks (.SPLRCT) making them the biggest gainers. "All those names and sectors (chipmakers) in general just got beat up much more than the market in general overall. So now in a lot of those names, there's value," said Jimmy Lee, chief executive officer of Wealth Consulting Group. Xylem Inc (XYL.N) dropped 8.74% on its acquisition of water treatment solutions firm Evoqua Water Technologies Corp (AQUA.N) in a $7.42 billion deal. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 3.40-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.90-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

☆ Wall Street rises as chipmakers lead tech shares higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Six of the 11 major S&P 500 sector indexes were up in early trading, with a 1.3% rise in tech stocks (.SPLRCT) making them the biggest gainers. "All those names and sectors (chipmakers) in general just got beat up much more than the market in general overall. Analysts now expect fourth-quarter earnings from S&P 500 companies to fall 2.9%, according to IBES Refinitiv data, compared with a 1.6% drop at the beginning of the year. Investors are also awaiting January manufacturing and fourth-quarter GDP data to assess the impact of the Fed's rate hikes on the economy. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 2.05-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.60-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

☆ Wall St eyes higher open with earnings in full swing, Salesforce rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The tech-focused Nasdaq (.IXIC) index was the only major Wall Street benchmark that ended the previous week higher. Analysts now expect year-over-year fourth-quarter earnings from S&P 500 companies to decline 2.9%, according to IBES Refinitiv data, compared with a 1.6% decline at the beginning of the year. Among other stocks, Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O) slid 1.4% on missing fourth-quarter profit estimates, hit by component shortages and supply chain disruptions. Western Digital Corp (WDC.O) rose 4.0% on a report that the memory chip maker could merge with Japan's Kioxia Holdings. Reporting by Shreyashi Sanyal and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru Editing by Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Futures subdued with earnings in full swing, Salesforce up on Elliot stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Futures: S&P off 0.08%, Dow and Nasdaq flatJan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures struggled for direction at the start of another big week for corporate earnings amid concerns about a recession, while Salesforce rose on Monday as Elliott Management acquired a stake in the firm. A slew of earnings in the coming weeks will also test the recent bounce in certain technology and growth stocks that took a large hit last year. ET, Dow e-minis were down 5 points, or 0.01%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 3.25 points, or 0.08%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 5.75 points, or 0.05%. Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD.O) climbed around 2% each, after brokerage Barclays upgraded the chipmakers to "overweight" from "equal-weight". Reporting by Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru Editing by Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bullish analyst note gives troubled chipmakers a much needed boost. Here's our view
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

In the back half of 2023, analysts expect an acceleration in capex spending in both the U.S., "and potentially in China." Also supportive of AMD shares, the analysts believe that the PC inventory glut should bottom out in the current quarter. QCOM YTD mountain Qualcomm (QCOM) YTD peformance One key driver of end market improvement is headwinds in China turning to tailwinds in the second half of the year. We continue to hold that view and note again that much of the Barclays analysts' optimism is predicated on their second-half 2023 view. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long QCOM, AMD, NVDA, EMR, CAT.

☆ Dutch export rules on China in focus ahead of ASML results
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Tosterling Stephanie Van Den Berg | Stephanie Van Den Berg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

One is making sure Dutch rules are drafted in such a way that they are not actually more restrictive for ASML than for U.S. companies. ASML is expected to post fourth-quarter net income of 1.68 billion euros ($1.82 billion) on record revenue of 6.37 billion euros, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. In November ASML raised its annual revenue estimates by 25% to at least 30 billion euros by 2025. There could be further losses from tougher Dutch rules, if for example, limits are re-applied to sales to China of older technology deep ultraviolet lithography (DUV) equipment. ASML has sold more than 8 billion euros worth of such equipment in China since 2014, when DUV was removed from international lists of goods deemed of possible military use.

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