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☆ Asia stocks see bright side after Nvidia sounds upbeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Shares in the giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (2330.TW) rose 2.2% to lift Taiwan's benchmark (.TWII) 1.3%. A 4% gain for SK Hynix (000660.KS) and a 2% gain for Samsung (005930.KS) drove South Korea's Kospi (.KS11) 1% higher. The Bank of Korea also offered some relief by ending a year-long run of uninterrupted rate hikes with a pause - as expected. Wall Street indexes fell overnight and are eyeing their worst week of the year so far as stronger-than-forecast U.S. labour, inflation, retail sales and manufacturing figures have traders pricing interest rates staying higher for longer. "Markets have been forced to reprice interest rate expectations, not just higher, but also questioning the view that once peak rates are hit, central banks will pivot quickly to cutting interest rates," said ANZ economist Finn Robinson.

☆ U.S. manufacturers see big boost from government subsidies and tax breaks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Timothy Aeppel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

While the Biden administration push, described by economists as an industrial policy, has opened opportunities for some companies, significant hurdles remain. Eight out of 12 Republican representatives in Ohio’s congressional delegation voted in favor of federal subsidies for semiconductor production, including the funds that will go to Intel. The 2022 CHIPS and Science Act provides $52.7 billion in federal subsidies for semiconductor production and research. Scott Lincicome, director of general economics at the libertarian Cato Institute, said industrial policy tends to crumble into failed projects and cost overruns. "There's all sorts of more market-oriented reforms that could achieve the type of objectives our political class wants, without the unintended consequences of industrial policy," he said.

While the Biden administration push, described by economists as an industrial policy, has opened opportunities for some companies, significant hurdles remain. The 2022 CHIPS and Science Act provides $52.7 billion in federal subsidies for semiconductor production and research. Industrial policy still has critics. Scott Lincicome, director of general economics at the libertarian Cato Institute, said industrial policy tends to crumble into failed projects and cost overruns. "There's all sorts of more market-oriented reforms that could achieve the type of objectives our political class wants, without the unintended consequences of industrial policy," he said.

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday said the government will encourage companies to build at least two advanced domestic computer chip factories employing thousands of union workers, as part of a $52.7 billion dollar initiative. The centers would also include a "robust supplier ecosystem," Raimondo said in a speech in Washington. "America needs to design and produce the world's most advanced chips right here in America," Raimondo said, adding that the United States leads in design but not manufacturing. Raimondo said the department planned to invest $11 billion in semiconductor research and development, including the creation of a public-private partnership she called the National Semiconductor Technology Center. The United States has some chip production, and signs of expansion despite a very tight labor market.

☆ U.S. will create at least two semiconductor manufacturing clusters by 2030, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testifies before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 1, 2022. WASHINGTON — The U.S. will use funds from the $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act to create at least two large-scale logic fabs for the manufacture of semiconductors, along with multiple high-volume advanced packaging facilities, by 2030, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced Thursday. U.S.-based manufacturing plants, known as "fabs," will produce advanced memory chips "on economically competitive terms," Raimondo said. "This is fundamentally a national security issue," she said. The Commerce secretary reiterated the government's plans to invest $11 billion in what it calls a National Semiconductor Technology Center.

☆ Nvidia vs. TSMC: Wall Street pros name their favorite stock as chip battle heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has dumped most of its stake in TSMC, just months after buying the Taiwanese chipmaker's stock. TSMC TSMC, meanwhile, is sometimes seen as a barometer of the strength of the U.S. consumer, with Apple among its biggest customers. This is a Game of Thrones battle and AI is here to stay with Nvidia a great play on that front. TSMC is a global chip recovery play that is well positioned with Nvidia in the left lane of innovation," he told CNBC Pro. "TSMC is the short-term play with Nvidia more of the longer-term AI bet."

☆ Taiwan is bolstering military exchanges with U.S., President Tsai says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Sarah Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meets U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), a member of the U.S. House China Select Committee, and other members of the U.S. delegation at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan, in this handout photo released February 21, 2023. TAIPEI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Taiwan is bolstering its military ties with the United States and will cooperate even more closely with it and other friendly nations to deal with "authoritarian expansionism", President Tsai Ing-wen told visiting U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday. While the United States no longer maintains military bases in Taiwan, the two have a good military relationship that has become closer as China steps up pressure to try and force Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty. "Taiwan and the United States continue to bolster military exchanges, and going forward Taiwan will cooperate even more actively with the United States and other democratic partners to confront such global challenges as authoritarian expansionism and climate change," Tsai told the lawmakers at her office in Taipei. In August, China staged military exercises near Taiwan to express anger at then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei.

☆ Taiwan Jan export orders fall more slowly, downside risks remain
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Faith Hung | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The island's export orders, a bellwether for global technology demand, had been 19.3% lower than a year before at $47.51 billion, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Monday. While semiconductor demand driven by new technologies would help orders in the traditional low season in the first quarter, "the downside risks of the global economy are still high, which may affect the performance of export orders", the ministry said. The ministry added that it expected export orders this month to be lower than in February 2022 by between 6.9% and 10.8%. Taiwan's January orders from China were 45.9% lower than a year earlier, versus the annual fall of 37.7% seen in December. Export orders from Europe rose 18.3%, versus December's annual fall of 23.9%.

☆ Paramount Isn’t Buffeted by Streaming Winds
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The series ‘1923’ with Harrison Ford had its premiere on Paramount+ near the end of the recent quarter. Warren Buffett may or may not be a “Yellowstone” fan, but he sure seems to like a good drama. Paramount Global was one of the few stocks Mr. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway bought more of during the fourth quarter, according to a filing earlier this week. And that was during a period when the famed long-term investor made some uncharacteristic quick exits. Berkshire sold off 86% of its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing just one quarter after first buying into the chip-making titan.

☆ U.S. Commerce Dept. names financial sector, government experts to chips team
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday it is naming more than a dozen members to a team overseeing $52.7 billion in government funding to boost semiconductor manufacturing and research. The new team members include officials with experience managing large federal programs, experts from the semiconductor industry, and executives with financial sector experience, the department said. The department said Todd Fisher - a Commerce official who previously worked for nearly 25 years at KKR & Co. Inc - will serve as chief investment officer. The department plans to release its first Notice of Funding Opportunity this month, a key step to beginning the process of making funding awards. In September, Commerce Department chief economist Aaron "Ronnie" Chatterji was named White House Coordinator for CHIPS Implementation while former Treasury official Michael Schmidt was named Commerce Department CHIPS Program Office director.

☆ Factbox: Chipmakers' plans for factories in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Under the European Chips Act, the European Commission earmarked early last year a total of 15 billion euros ($16 billion) for public and private semiconductor projects by 2030. Below are some of the chipmakers' plans for factories in Europe, in alphabetical order:Infineon (IFXGn.DE):The maker of chips used in cars and data won approval to begin work on a 5 billion euro semiconductor plant in the German city of Dresden, it said on Feb. 16. Intel (INTC.O):In March 2022, Intel picked the German city of Magdeburg as the site for its new mega chip manufacturing complex, a key part of its $88 billion investment drive across Europe. STMicroelectronics (STM.BN):The Franco-Italian company said in October it plans to build a 730 million euro silicon carbide wafer plant in Italy. It also announced plans in July to build a semiconductor factory in France in partnership with GlobalFoundries (GFS.O).

☆ Buffett TSMC's U-turn spotlights chips' siren call
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Feb 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A lot can change in three months, especially in the world of semiconductor investing. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) inexplicably sold most of its $4.1 billion holding in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (2330.TW), a position only disclosed in November. For TSMC, Berkshire probably pocketed a 9% return, Reuters reported citing analyst estimates, having held the stake for roughly three months. He may be right about TSMC, which boasts a monopoly in advanced chipmaking and superior profitability - the "moats" Buffett prizes so highly. Moat or no moat, the outlook for chips is getting dicey.

☆ Berkshire Hathaway Sheds Most of Its Stake in Chip Maker TSMC
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Dave Sebastian | Dan Strumpf | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Workers at a TSMC chip factory in Tainan, Taiwan, late last year. Warren Buffett ’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. sold billions of dollars worth of shares in a Taiwanese chip maker just months after taking a stake in the company. The Omaha, Neb.-based conglomerate cut its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. by 51.8 million shares in the last three months of 2022, according to a regulatory filing Tuesday. That was roughly 86% of its investment.

☆ Berkshire Hathaway Boosts Stake in Apple, Paramount Global in Relatively Quiet Quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Akane Otani | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Elizabeth Bick for The Wall Street JournalBank of America is one of Berkshire Hathaway’s biggest holdings. Warren Buffett ‘s Berkshire Hathaway sold more shares than it bought in the final quarter of 2022, a regulatory filing Tuesday showed. The Omaha, Neb.-based company added to its positions in Apple Inc., Louisiana-Pacific Corp. and Paramount Global in the final three months of the year while trimming its positions in eight companies, including U.S. Bancorp and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

The decision, announced after financial markets closed, gives Biden a pair of trusted Washington insiders to steer economic policy as the risk of recession fades but inflation lingers. Big fights also loom with the Republican-controlled House of Representatives over raising the debt ceiling. The shakeup comes as the White House tries to tackle what officials view as a frustrating disconnect between relatively strong economic data and weak public sentiment. The White House has refused to discuss spending cuts without a debt ceiling vote first. Bernstein last week conceded that the White House's early description of inflation as "transitory" had missed the mark.

☆ Cable maker Credo slumps on forecast hit as top customer cuts orders
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 15 (Reuters) - Credo Technology Group Holding (CRDO.O) forecast fourth-quarter revenue well below estimates on Tuesday following a cut in orders from the cable maker's largest customer, sending its shares down as much as 43% on Wednesday. The stock, which fell to $11.07, is set for its worst day since going public in January last year at an issue price of $10. According to a company filing, one of Credo's customers accounted for 44% of its revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2023. Credo, which makes cables used in data centers, said it was expecting fourth-quarter revenue of $30 million to $32 million, below estimates of $58.3 million, according to Refinitiv data. Credo, which also designs chips, currently outsources all its semiconductor manufacturing to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (2330.TW).

☆ Morgan Stanley says these stocks will benefit from an A.I. boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The current buzz surrounding artificial intelligence is here to stay, creating plenty of trading opportunities as the technology grows, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Shawn Kim. However, the hype around generative AI may be justified and the technology feels genuinely exciting," Kim said in a note on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley anticipates that increased demand for computer power needed for AI training will lead to rapidly growing markets for graphics and central processing units. In the generative AI world, "the raw material is data; the user of that material is hyperscale data centers; the enabling workhorse is semiconductors," wrote Kim. GDS "has more balanced exposure to all internet companies," Kim said, adding that its "valuation is more reasonable."

☆ TSMC out of favor with slew of funds alongside Berkshire, filings show
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The announcement drove shares in TSMC down 6% on Wednesday, although they remain up 23.5% this year. Equity long-short hedge fund Tiger entirely sold its 1.3 million shares in TSMC in the fourth quarter, a stake worth $119 million at current prices. Fund manager Capital Group also sold over 9.5 million shares in the chipmaker, regulatory filings showed. JPMorgan and BlackRock dumped roughly 4 million shares in TSMC each. On Tuesday, Charles Munder, a director and vice-chairman of Berkshire, said TSMC is the "strongest semiconductor company on earth," without elaborating on the reasons for the sale.

Taipei/Hong Kong CNN —Shares in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company fell as much as 4% on Wednesday, after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosed that it had sold most of its holdings in the chip giant. Just months before, in November, the company held about 60 million American depository shares of TSMC worth $4.1 billion, according to an SEC filing. Berkshire Hathaway did not provide a reason for the sale and did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment. Shares in TSMC, which accounts for an estimated 90% of the world’s super-advanced computer chips, ended Wednesday more than 3% lower. TSMC announced last year that it’s building a second semiconductor factory in Phoenix and increasing its investment there.

☆ Morning Bid: Interminable anxiety
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The about-turn in rates markets in just two weeks has been extraordinary - with Fed funds futures pricing moving from a terminal rate as low as 4.8% to 5.26% on Wednesday. Two-year Treasury yields soared to a 3-month high of 4.64% on Tuesday - where current Fed rates sit - and only gave back a fraction of that on Wednesday. U.S. stocks held up remarkably well on Tuesday - helped by hopes recession fears are easing even as rate speculation intensifies. Sterling slipped as UK inflation fell faster than expected last month, even though the annual inflation rate remains in double digits. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ TSMC shares fall after Berkshire cuts stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TAIPEI, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Shares in Taiwan's TSMC (2330.TW), opened 3.3% lower on Wednesday after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) slashed its stake in the chipmaker. Berkshire cut its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) by 86.2% to 8.29 million sponsored American depositary shares, a regulatory filing showed. read moreTSMC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Faith Hung; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Kraft Heinz, Paramount, Airbnb, Tripadvisor and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Airbnb — The home-sharing company gained nearly 10% in the premarket after posting fourth-quarter earnings that beat analysts' expectations. Airbnb reported earnings per share of 48 cents, compared to the 25 cents expected, per Refinitiv. Generac — Shares added more than 2% after the power generator maker reported fourth-quarter earnings results. Generac posted earnings of $1.78 per share, better than the $1.75 per share expected by analysts polled by FactSet. Analog Devices — Shares were up 6.7% in premarket trading after the company reported better-than-expected earnings for the fiscal first quarter.

SummarySummary Companies Retail sales up 3% in Jan vs. est. A Commerce Department report showed retail sales surged 3% in January, driven by purchases of motor vehicles and other goods. "These numbers (retail sales) beat consensus by a long shot and it just shows that the consumer is still in a good spot," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New York. Of the more than half of the S&P 500 firms that have reported results so far, nearly 70% have topped profit expectations, as per Refinitiv data. ET, Dow e-minis were down 82 points, or 0.24%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 11.25 points, or 0.27%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 25.5 points, or 0.2%.

☆ Who is Jared Bernstein, new chief White House economist?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Americans remain unimpressed by Biden's economic performance, with prices of many basic goods and mortgage rates high. Bernstein, who played the double bass in jazz bands and worked as a social worker in New York City, has long been a voice for progressive economic policy. He served in the Labor Department under former President Bill Clinton and then as Biden's chief economist when he was vice president. At the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington think tank, he wrote and testified to Congress extensively on the shrinking U.S. middle class, a bedrock Biden theme. U.S. business groups worry that Bernstein's labor ties and anti-free trade stance could hamper efforts to bolster trade ties with other countries.

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Chinese chip design company Unisoc (Shanghai) Technologies Co is seeking to raise 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in a new funding round that will value the firm at about 70 billion yuan ($10.3 billion), three people with knowledge of the deal told Reuters. Unisoc has approached several state-backed investment funds for the round, tapping increased local investor interest in China's domestic chip industry, which is gearing up to be more self-sufficient in the face of U.S. pressure, the people said. Unisoc is controlled by private equity firm Wise Road Capital, which took over the company in 2022 after Tsinghua Unigroup, its former parent company, faced bankruptcy. In its statement from Feb. 8, it added it had reached revenue of 14 billion yuan in 2022. A statement in July 2022 said it had revenue of 11.7 billion yuan in 2021.

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