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☆ Taiwan chipmaker UMC sees demand stabilising, with 'rush' PC, smartphone orders
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) is seen at the company’s lobby at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. The semiconductor industry has come under pressure as global economic woes dent demand for chips used in everything from tablets to cellphones and cars. In an earnings release, UMC (2303.TW) co-President Jason Wang said it expected demand to gradually stabilise in the last three months of the year. "For the fourth quarter, with the recent rush orders from PC and smartphones, we expect demand has gradually stabilised," he said. However, the company kept its guidance for capital spending this year at $3 billion, compared with $2.7 billion for last year.

Persons: Ann Wang, TSMC, chipmaker, Jason Wang, Ben Blanchard, Jan Harvey Organizations: United Microelectronics Corporation, Hsinchu Science, REUTERS, United Microelectronics Corp, Qualcomm Inc, Germany's Infineon, UMC's, Thomson Locations: Hsinchu, Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan, TAIPEI, U.S, UMC's Taipei

☆ Taiwan chipmaker UMC sees 'uncertain' demand, gearing up for AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummaryCompanies Wafer demand 'uncertain' in Q3UMC says gearing up to meet AI demandQ2 revenue -21.9% y/y, +3.8% q/q2023 capex guidance unchanged at $3 blnTAIPEI, July 26 (Reuters) - Taiwanese chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) said on Wednesday that it sees "uncertain" demand in the third quarter but stuck to its 2023 capital spending plans as its gears up to meet customer demand for artificial intelligence (AI). The semiconductor industry has come under pressure as global economic woes dent demand for chips used in everything from cars to cellphones. "Looking into the third quarter, wafer demand outlook is uncertain given prolonged inventory correction in the supply chain," he added. However, the company kept its guidance for capital spending this year at $3 billion, compared with $2.7 billion for last year. "We are gearing up to offer the necessary silicon interposer technology and capacity to fulfil emerging AI market demand from customers," Wang said.

Persons: TSMC, Jason Wang, Wang, UMC, Ben Blanchard, Christina Fincher Organizations: United Microelectronics Corp, chipmaker, Qualcomm Inc, Germany's Infineon, UMC's, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, U.S, UMC's Taipei, Taiwan

☆ China gallium curbs raise chip questions for future EV models
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Gallium is found in trace amounts in zinc ores and in bauxite, and gallium metal is produced when processing bauxite to make aluminium. Transphorm uses ultra thin layers of gallium nitride that are a micron, or one thousandth of a millimetre thick, on its semiconductors. "If you are already banking on gallium nitride and designing it into your platform, then you're in trouble," he said. A source at a Japanese automotive supplier told Reuters the company was weighing up whether to use gallium nitride or silicon carbide for future power semiconductors. "People have to look for other options, but gallium nitride is hard to replace, said the CMI's Neill.

Persons: Umesh Mishra, Mishra, Transphorm, Alastair Neill, Transphorm's Mishra, Neill, Nick Carey, Daniel Leussink, Christina Amann, Zoey Zhang, Matt Scuffham, David Evans Organizations: Alliance, micron, Critical Minerals Institute, Reuters, Infineon, Canada's GaN Systems, Thomson Locations: China, Goleta , California, Tokyo, Berlin, Shanghai

☆ EU's von der Leyen hails Infineon factory as chip production milestone for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DRESDEN, Germany May 2 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday hailed the construction of a new factory by Germany's Infineon (IFXGn.DE) a milestone in mass chip production as Europe tries to capture a larger slice of the strategic industry. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of Infineon's factory in the German city of Dresden, von der Leyen said it was a step in Europe's goal of doubling its share of global chip production to 20% by 2030 by quadrupling its current capacity. But she warned that Europe was still too dependent for raw materials on individual suppliers, citing in particular that China has a 76% share of producing the silicon metals needed in chip production. This is why it is vital that we in Europe strengthen the supply chains of our most important goods and technologies," von der Leyen said in a speech. Infineon expects production at the 5-billion-euro semiconductor plant, the largest investment in the company's history, to start in 2026.

Many Western companies are reviewing their supply chains and reliance on China as a manufacturing base, with Washington stepping up curbs in particular aimed at hobbling Beijing's chip ambitions and slowing its technological and military advances. Asked on an earnings call about U.S. and European chip designers shifting orders away from Chinese factories, UMC (2303.TW) co-President Jason Wang said their customers were starting to "evaluate their supply chain resilience". UMC could benefit from that, given the company makes chips in Taiwan, China, Singapore and Japan, Wang added. Global tech demand has slumped in recent months as soaring inflation, rising interest rates and a gloomy world economic outlook have led consumers and businesses to tighten spending. ($1 = 30.6960 Taiwan dollars)Reporting by Sarah Wu and Ben Blanchard Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Qaem-5 precision-guided munition, documented by Conflict Armament Research in Ukraine. Shahed-131 UAV documented by Conflict Armament Research in Ukraine. Circuit boards of four different items of Russian military equipment found in Ukraine by Conflict Armament Research investigators. Electronic components documented by Conflict Armament Research investigators in Ukraine. Source: Conflict Armament Research

☆ US semiconductor index hits highest in nearly a year on hopes for industry turn
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, March 30 (Reuters) - The Philadelphia semiconductor index (.SOX) hit its highest level in nearly a year on Thursday, as optimism grows that a sales downturn in the industry has reached its nadir, in part due to a surge in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. And so if that's beginning to turn, that's really bullish for those companies." The semiconductor index is up nearly 27% this year, putting it on track for its biggest quarterly percentage gain since the second quarter of 2020. Reuters GraphicsAmong semis this year, Nvidia (NVDA.O) has surged nearly 90% as the best performer on the S&P 500 to rank the company as the fifth-most valuable on the benchmark index. Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; additional reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch, Sinéad Carew and Noel Randewich Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Morning Bid: Bank calm, rates firm, Alibaba steals show
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A semblance of calm has returned to world markets in the final week of the first quarter as the banking storm abates and the spotlight switched to a share-boosting six-way revamp of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. Investors cheered the surprise move from Alibaba (9988.HK) as a sign Beijing's corporate crackdown may be nearing an end, sending shares of the Jack Ma-founded firm and peers soaring. The surprise move seeks to take advantage of Ermotti's experience rebuilding the bank after the global financial crisis 15 years ago. Broader stock markets were higher across the board, with Wall St futures up almost 1% ahead of the open. Futures markets now show a 50-50 chance of one more Fed rate hike in this cycle in May and half a point of easing by yearend.

☆ Taiwan chipmaker UMC imposes strict cost controls over weak demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"To manage this period of weakness, the company is implementing strict cost control measures and deferring certain capital expenditures where possible." The company reported a 14.8% year-on-year rise in fourth-quarter revenue to T$67.84 billion ($2.24 billion), although that was 10% down compared to the previous quarter with wafer shipments falling 14.8% quarter on quarter. Shares in UMC closed 1.1% down on Monday, underperforming a 0.7% rise in the broader market (.TWII). They have gained 10.3% so far this year, giving the company a market value of $18.7 billion. ($1 = 30.3030 Taiwan dollars)Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Edmund BlairOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ European shares muted, UK outperforms as China-exposed stocks jump
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Bansari Mayur Kamdar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The region-wide STOXX 600 (.STOXX) was flat as of 9:31 GMT, while the FTSE 100 <.FTSE> advanced 0.7% as commodity-linked and China-exposed stocks jumped in early trading. The UK market, which was closed for holidays since its half-day trading on Friday, is playing catch-up, analysts said. The FTSE 100 index has benefited this year from its exposure to commodities as prices of oil and base metals have rallied amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Meanwhile, STOXX 600 was headed for an annual loss of 12.2% as concerns about an economic recession due to aggressive monetary policy tightening by central banks globally weighed on the European index. The technology sector (.SX8P) weighed on STOXX 600 on Wednesday, tracking the overnight fall in U.S. peers as rising yields pressured the interest rate sensitive shares, a recurring theme this year.

☆ Bank of America says 2 global chip stocks could rise by 75% on EV car sales
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The shortage of semiconductors during a boom in electric vehicle sales could help raise profits at a handful of chip makers, according to Bank of America. The investment bank said shares of U.S.-listed European chip maker STMicroelectronics and Japan's Renesas Electronics could rise by more than 75% over the next year on that trend. Although global automotive sales are expected to rise by just 3-4% over the next two years, the transition to EV cars means chip sales are set to grow by 7-9% year after year for the next two years, the Wall Street bank said. The company said auto revenues grew 44% in 2021 due to chip sales for in-car connectivity devices. Other chip stocks set to benefit from the trend to EV vehicles include U.S.-based companies Marvell , Microchip , Nvidia and Ambarella , Wolfspeed , and Onsemi , as well as European semiconductor manufacturers NXP and Soitec .

☆ Chipmaker UMC cuts capex in readiness for prolonged downturn
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Sarah Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The company has revised 2022 capital expenditure down to $3 billion, compared with a previous plan for $3.6 billion, said finance chief Chitung Liu. However, expansion in Singapore and Tainan in southern Taiwan are progressing as planned to meet long-term supply commitments, Wang said. However, UMC will continue to monitor developments and "take risk-management measures as necessary", he added. Shares in UMC closed 3.4% down on Wednesday and have fallen about 41% this year. ($1 = 32.1210 Taiwan dollars)Reporting by Sarah Wu Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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