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☆ Critical chip firm ASML, caught in China export restrictions, posts 38% rise in profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Dutch firm ASML makes one of the most important pieces of machinery required to manufacture the most advanced chips in the world. Here's how ASML did in the second quarter versus Refinitiv estimates:Net sales : 6.9 billion euros ($7.7 billion), compared with 6.72 billion euros expected. : 6.9 billion euros ($7.7 billion), compared with 6.72 billion euros expected. Net profit: 1.9 billion euros, versus 1.82 billion euros expected. ASML said it expects net sales in the third quarter of this year to sit between 6.5 billion euros and 7 billion euros.

Persons: ASML, Peter Wennink, Wennink Organizations: U.S . Locations: U.S, Dutch, China

☆ ASML to hire 100 researchers leaving Philips
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, July 18 (Reuters) - Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML (ASML.AS) will hire 100 researchers who are leaving Philips (PHG.AS), the companies said on Tuesday. ASML was founded as a joint venture between Philips and ASM International (ASMI.AS) in 1984 and has become Europe's largest technology company by market capitalisation. Philips, a former industrial conglomerate that now focuses on medical technology, has been retrenching and cutting staff after a major recall of respiratory devices. The employees switching companies are from Philips' Engineering Solutions division, including staff working on "mechatronics", the integration of mechanical control systems into electronics. ASML hired a net 7,000 employees in 2022, adding almost 20% to its global workforce, but it is expected to slow that pace this year.

Persons: ASML, Toby Sterling, David Goodman, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Philips, ASM International, Engineering Solutions, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Financieele Dagblad, ASML

☆ Factbox-Companies respond to China's curbs on gallium and germanium exports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/IllustrationFollowing are responses from some companies to the announcement of curbs from Aug. 1 on Chinese gallium and germanium exports. * Dowa Holdings, the world’s top producer of high-purity gallium used in products such as wafers and LEDs, said it was investigating the situation. * A spokesperson for Fujitsu said the company “is currently not active in the semiconductor business, so we are not directly impacted by the export regulations. * Microchip Technology said its initial assessment is that there will not be a material impact. * Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares said the restrictions on gallium and germanium exports should not push Western companies to “decouple” from China.

Persons: Florence Lo, chipmaker, Carlos Tavares, ” Tavares Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Semiconductor, Association of Japan, Dowa Holdings, Fujitsu, Nichia, Sumitomo Chemical, Nasdaq, Semiconductors, Technology, Intel, Infineon, European Union, Navitas Semiconductor Corp Locations: China, United States, U.S

☆ The Fed can’t decide how much money US households have left
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Interest rates are higher and so are prices, credit is drying up and there are signs that the labor market is finally softening. The problem is that no one, not even the Federal Reserve, knows how much longer the American consumer can keep on spending. Personal saving rates soared as a result, with US households amassing about $2.3 trillion in savings in 2020 and through the summer of 2021, according to Federal Reserve economists. Economists know that savings must be dissipating, but haven’t quite figured out just how much of that money is left. Just a few weeks later, economists at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington said just the opposite.

Persons: New York CNN — There’s, we’ve, ”, Torsten Slok, Lydia Boussour, Hanna Ziady, Xiaofei Xu, Beijing’s, Laura He, Wei Jianguo, Funflation, Beyflation — Taylor Swift, Fisher, don’t Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Commerce Department, Federal Reserve Bank of San, Governors, Apollo Global Management, Consumer, Reuters, China Daily, Fisher Investments, National Statistics Locations: New York, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Washington, United States, EY, Boussour, China, Beijing, Japan, Italy, Netherlands, Swiftflation

Gallium and germanium will be subject to export controls starting August 1 “to protect national security and interests,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Monday. Gallium and germanium are used in a variety of products, including computer chips and solar panels. Beijing’s move comes just days after the Dutch government announced new restrictions on exports of some semiconductor equipment, drawing an angry response from Beijing, according to Reuters. The new rules mean that ASML (ASML), Europe’s largest tech firm, will need to apply for export licenses for products used to make microchips. Critics of the decision “could ask the US government why it holds the world’s largest germanium mines but seldom exploits them.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, — Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: Paris CNN — Beijing, China’s Ministry of Commerce, . Geological Survey, Reuters, China, US, Communist Party, Treasury Locations: Paris, United States, Europe, China, Beijing, Japan, Italy, Washington, Netherlands

☆ China urges Netherlands to not abuse export control measures
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, July 1 (Reuters) - China has urged the Netherlands to not hinder bilateral cooperation in the semiconductor industry and to not abuse export controls, China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. The statement was made in response to questions from the media, it said. It also said the two countries have communicated frequently and at various levels on the topic. The Dutch government on Friday announced new restrictions on exports of some semiconductor equipment, boosting a U.S.-led drive to curb supplies of high-tech components to China. Reporting by Sophie Yu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sophie Yu, Ryan Woo, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: China's Ministry of Commerce, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Netherlands, U.S

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) closed 1.2% higher. European shares still advanced 8.7% in the first six months of the year. Miners (.SXPP) were a big drag this quarter, down 9.2% as worries around top metals consumer China weighed heavily on metal prices. The real estate sector (.SX86P) rose 1.7%, buoyed by 4.3% gains in shares of LEG Immobilien (LEGn.DE) after the German firm raised its 2023 outlook. Shares in Adidas (ADSGn.DE) and Puma (PUMG.DE), which had fallen earlier on Nike's (NKE.N) dour forecast, reversed course to rise 2.5% and 3.3%, respectively.

Persons: Melanie Debono, Hubert de, Amruta Khandekar, Matteo Allievi, Varun H, Eileen Soreng, David Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, Pantheon, ECB, Capital Economics, MIB, Miners, Adidas, Puma, Thomson Locations: Europe, U.S, Hubert de Barochez, China, Bengaluru, Gdansk

☆ Dutch curb chip equipment exports, drawing Chinese ire
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We have taken this step in the interest of our national security" said Dutch Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher, adding such equipment may have military applications. Schreinemacher said a "very limited" number of companies and product models would be affected, and China was not named. But the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands described the move as an "abuse of export control measures" that violate trade rules. ASM International, which makes atomic layer deposition tools, said it did not expect a material change to its forecasts as a result of the Dutch rules, which also discuss that technology. The new Dutch list may later be adopted by other European countries or added to the EU list, though few European firms export high-end chipmaking equipment.

Persons: ASML, Liesje Schreinemacher, Schreinemacher, Toby Sterling, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: Dutch Trade, Embassy, U.S, Washington, ASM International, Lam Research, Materials, Reuters, Union, EU, Zeiss, Thomson Locations: China, AMSTERDAM, U.S, Beijing, Netherlands, Dutch, Japan, Taiwan, ASML

☆ Amid US pressure, Dutch announce new chip equipment export rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, June 30 (Reuters) - The Dutch government on Friday announced new rules restricting exports of certain advanced semiconductor equipment, a move that comes amid U.S. pressure on its allies to curb sales of hi-tech components to China. "We have taken this step in the interest of our national security" said Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher, adding such equipment may have military applications. The rules, which will require companies that make advanced chipmaking equipment to seek a licence before they can export it, are expected to go into effect on Sept. 1. A technical document specifying which equipment will require a licence accompanied the announcement. Reporting by Toby Sterling Editing by Andrew Heavens and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Liesje Schreinemacher, Toby Sterling, Andrew Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, China

☆ Netherlands, home to a critical chip firm, follows U.S. with export curbs on semiconductor tools
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. has been putting pressure on the Netherlands to block exports to China of high-tech semiconductor equipment. Susan Walsh | AFP | Getty ImagesThe Netherlands on Friday announced new export restrictions on advanced semiconductor equipment amid U.S. pressure to cut China off from key chipmaking tools. Since then, the U.S. has been ramping up pressure on key chipmaking nations and allies like the Netherlands and Japan, to introduce export restrictions of their own. The Dutch government was on the fence but in March laid out restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductor equipment. This will give them the time they need to adapt to the new rules," Dutch Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher said in a statement.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Joe Biden, Susan Walsh, hobble, Liesje Schreinemacher, ASML Organizations: AFP, Getty, Friday, Companies, Washington, Trade Locations: Netherlands, U.S, China, ASML, Japan

☆ Exclusive: US, Dutch set to hit China's chipmakers with one-two punch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Karen Freifeld | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

ASML said in March it expects the Dutch regulations to affect its TWINSCAN NXT:2000i and more sophisticated models. But the company's older DUV models, like one called the TWINSCAN NXT:1980Di, could also be kept from about six Chinese facilities by the U.S. The new Dutch regulations will not take effect immediately, sources said, with one person expecting the effective date to be September, two months after publication. ASML is Europe's largest chip equipment company due to its dominance in lithography, one of the central steps in the computer chip making process. Other companies that could be impacted by the new Dutch rules include atomic layer deposition firm ASM International.

Persons: Liu Pengyu, ASML, Karen Freifeld, Toby Sterling, Anna Driver, Stephen Coates Organizations: . Commerce Department, Lam Research, Materials, Embassy, Nikon Corp, Tokyo Electron, U.S, SMIC, International, Thomson Locations: United States, Netherlands, U.S, China, Washington, Japan, ASML'S, Almere, Amsterdam

☆ U.S., Dutch set to hit China's chipmakers with one-two punch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Japan, home to chip equipment makers Nikon and Tokyo Electron , has since adopted rules to restrict exports of 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment that will take effect July 23. ASML said in March it expects the Dutch regulations to affect its TWINSCAN NXT:2000i and more sophisticated models. But the company's older DUV models, like one called the TWINSCAN NXT:1980Di, could also be kept from about six Chinese facilities by the U.S. The new Dutch regulations will not take effect immediately, sources said, with one person expecting the effective date to be September, two months after publication. ASML is Europe's largest chip equipment company due to its dominance in lithography, one of the central steps in the computer chip making process.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Joe Biden, Liu Pengyu, ASML Organizations: . Commerce Department, Lam Research, Materials, Embassy, Nikon, Tokyo, U.S, SMIC, International Locations: Netherlands, U.S, China, United States, Washington, Japan, ASML'S, Almere

☆ Japan upgrades Q1 GDP as business spending picks up
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Japan Q1 GDP growth upgradedHowever, with much of the revised January-March growth driven by inventories, rather than final demand, Tsunoda warned the recovery so far may not be as robust as headline figures suggest. The revised data showed GDP rose 0.4% in October-December, following a 1.5% contraction in July-September. Capital spending rose 1.4%, upgraded from 0.9% and roughly in line with Ministry of Finance data last week that showed manufacturers' business spending grew at the fastest rate since 2015. While consumption growth was downgraded on fresh services-sector statistics, "the broader picture is unchanged that spending on services such as restaurants and hotels contributed positively" to the January-March GDP expansion, the official added. Domestic demand as a whole contributed 1.0 percentage point to the revised first-quarter GDP growth, more than initially estimated.

Persons: restocking, Takumi Tsunoda, Tsunoda, Shinkin's Tsunoda, Kantaro, Pasit Kongkunakornkul, Sam Holmes Organizations: TOKYO, Bank of Japan, Shinkin Central Bank Research Institute, Japan, of Finance, Thomson

☆ Elon Musk meets China's foreign minister as Tesla boss touts expansion in the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk met with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday as Beijing pushed to show it is open to foreign business and the Tesla CEO reportedly signaled further expansion in China. According to the Chinese foreign ministry statement, Musk praised Chinese the Chinese people and China's achievements. Tesla did not immediately respond to a CNBC request to verify the Chinese foreign ministry's statement. The meeting between Musk and Qin comes at a time of continued tensions between the U.S. and China over technology. The Chinese foreign minister on Tuesday said that a "constructive" U.S. and China relationship is in the interest of both countries and the world.

☆ Too far, too fast: These stocks may be due for a pullback after exceeding analyst price targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Investors beware — a number of stocks have overshot analysts' price targets, and could be due for a pullback, according to CNBC Pro. Our screen found S & P 500 stocks with an implied downside of at least 3% after the shares exceeded their average price targets, according to FactSet data. In fact, Citi analyst Christopher Allen initiated coverage of the investment management firm this week with a sell rating, saying there's 9% downside, according to StreetAccount. Slightly more than half, or 57%, of analysts have a buy rating on the stock. Meanwhile, Lam Research also made the list, with just half of analysts recommending investors buy the semiconductor equipment maker.

As Japan and the United States place fresh curbs on Chinese technology firms, local investors are scooping up shares of those firms and state companies, and reaping handsome rewards. New fund launches will potentially channel money into China's technology and chipmaking leaders, including ZTE Corp (000063.SZ), Unisplendour Co (000938.SZ), Montage and Cambricon Technologies (688256.SS). Cutting-edge innovation requires huge and long-term investment, which is beyond the ability of private companies, "but SOEs can do it," Yang said. For example, China's chipmaking sector is now trading at 60 times earnings, compared with 16 for the broad market. But "China needs high valuation in some sectors ... Why don't you put down your wager, while also supporting the country's development?"

☆ Stifel raises S&P 500 target on falling inflation expectations, says buy cyclical stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stifel just got more bullish on where stocks will land at the halfway point of 2023, and encouraged investors buy cyclical stocks. However, the strategist expects investors will not have to worry about a downturn until later down the road. Given this, Bannister said he's been bullish on cyclical growth and value stocks since October. Meanwhile, he expects cyclical value stocks in basic materials, capital goods, banks, transportation and others that took a hit during the regional banking crisis are "oversold" if the economy continues to hold up. He said defensive value stocks are "last year's story," while defensive growth stocks will benefit when the U.S. reaches a recession.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Meta, Teladoc, Harley-Davidson, Southwest Airlines and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Teladoc Health – The telemedicine company saw its stock soar more than 7% after revenue topped analyst estimates in the latest quarter. The company also raised the low end of its revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance, although it posted a wider-than-anticipated loss in the latest quarter. Harley-Davidson – Harley-Davidson jumped 4.4% after the motorcycle maker topped earnings and revenue expectations, according to consensus estimates from Refinitiv. Honeywell International – Honeywell advanced 1.8% after surpassing earnings and revenue expectations in its latest quarter. ServiceNow – Shares declined 1.1% premarket after a 17% runup year-to-date entering its latest earnings.

☆ Germany may restrict export of chip chemicals to China - Bloomberg
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 27 (Reuters) - Germany may limit the export of chemicals to China that are used to manufacture semiconductors as part of the government's efforts to reduce its economic exposure to the Asian economic superpower, Bloomberg news reported on Thursday. It would be the latest in steps under consideration by Germany as it reassesses ties with China. Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) and BASF (BASFn.DE), two German chemicals majors who could be affected by the export curbs if implemented, declined comment. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck had in March suggested that Berlin could impose export restrictions to China to prevent Germany from losing its technological edge. "Export controls with regard to technology must be constantly checked, constantly expanded and constantly updated," a government spokesperson added at the time.

☆ Chipmaker ASMI sees more business coming in from China this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

April 26 (Reuters) - ASM International (ASMI.AS) sees more business coming from China this year compared with previous years, the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker said on Wednesday. When asked by analysts about how much growth the company would see in its domestic China business in the current year, Chief Financial Officer Paul Verhagen said: "I think you know we will see probably more business coming in from China compared to, you know, previous years, but it's not going to be at the same level as what perhaps one of our peers have mentioned." ASML Holding (ASML.AS) said last week that it expects sales to mainland China to pick up for the remainder of 2023 following a dip in the first quarter. Reporting by Dina Kartit. Editing by Jane MerrimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ ASML CEO says politics will lead to slower semiconductor advances
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

AMSTERDAM, April 26 (Reuters) - National security plans and geopolitical tensions including those between the United States and China will have ripple effects through the semiconductor industry, the chief executive of ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS) said on Wednesday. Speaking at ASML's annual meeting, CEO Peter Wennink said it was "logical" that China would seek to develop its own technologies, including semiconductor equipment, when it is restricted from purchasing products made abroad. ASML dominates the market for lithography tools, important equipment needed in computer chip manufacture, and Wennink said he was not worried rivals anywhere are close to being able to develop and build competing top-end commercial products. Reporting by Toby Sterling, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ European shares fall as banking sector jitters eclipse upbeat earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Shubham Batra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) fell 0.7%, as regional banking stocks (.SX7E) dropped 1.2%. Earnings from Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and Google's parent Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) beat expectations, but recessionary worries in the world's largest economy kept investor sentiment fragile. Shares of Swiss banking software company Temenos AG (TEMN.S) jumped 10.2% after it reported first-quarter earnings above consensus. Meanwhile, ASM International NV (ASMI.AS) fell 10.0% after the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker reported a drop in first-quarter orders, citing softening market conditions, despite an estimate-beating revenue. Dassault Systemes SE (DAST.PA) slid 7.4% after the French software maker reported first-quarter numbers broadly in line with estimates but with a miss on software licenses.

Meta posted $28.65 billion in revenue, topping analysts' $27.66 billion estimate, according to Refinitiv data. Revenue topped estimates, coming in at $741 million versus analysts' estimate of $708.5 million. Ebay said it sees second-quarter per share earnings between 96 cents to $1.01, while analysts had estimated 99 cents per share. Ebay's estimated current-quarter revenue of $2.47 billion to $2.54 billion topped analysts' consensus projection of $2.43 billion. Pioneer Natural Resources — The oil and gas company fell 2.2% after first-quarter earnings topped estimates while revenue missed.

☆ Here are the top 10 stock analysts of the past decade, according to TipRanks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Tipranks.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

TipRanks' algorithms calculated the average return and statistical significance of each rating, as well as the analysts' overall success rate. To come up with this list, TipRanks analyzed every stock recommendation made by analysts in the past decade. TipRanks is celebrating a decade of simplifying investment decisions through its data-driven research tools: Here is a list of the 10 best analysts on Wall Street. Bolton's best rating in the past decade has been on ACM Research (NASDAQ:ACMR), a semiconductor equipment manufacturing company. These analysts generated significant returns from their recommendations in the past decade and have notable success rates.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Tesla, IBM, American Express, AT&T and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

American Express posted earnings per share of $2.40 for the first quarter, below an estimate of $2.66, per Refinitiv. On Wednesday, the casino and resort company posted a beat on first-quarter earnings. The decline comes a day after Zions missed earnings expectations in the first quarter. The company posted earnings of $2.73 per share on revenue of $7.97 billion. The downgrade comes ahead of the defense firm's first quarter earnings report, which is set to release April 25.

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