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A central processing unit (CPU) semiconductor chip is displayed among flags of China and U.S., in this illustration picture taken February 17, 2023. Following are some key details:'COUNTRIES OF CONCERN'The order lays out plans to regulate investments in certain "countries of concern," with a separate annex naming China, Hong Kong and Macau as initial targets. The outbound investment program would require notification of many investments while prohibiting only a few. It was considering requiring notification for investments in firms working on the design, fabrication, and packaging of less advanced integrated circuits. U.S. investments in Chinese production of quantum computers, development of certain quantum sensors, and quantum networking and communication systems could also be banned.
Persons: Florence Lo, Joe Biden, Janet Yellen, Andrea Shalal, Karen Freifeld, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Wednesday, U.S . Treasury Department, Reuters, China, United, Treasury, European Union, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Hong Kong, Macau, United States, Beijing, Washington, Britain, New York
President Biden escalated his confrontation with China on Wednesday by signing an executive order banning American investments in key technology industries that could be used to enhance Beijing’s military capabilities, the latest in a series of moves putting further distance between the world’s two largest economies. The order will prohibit venture capital and private equity firms from pumping money into Chinese efforts to develop semiconductors and other microelectronics, quantum computers and certain artificial intelligence applications. Administration officials stressed that the move was tailored to guard national security, but China is likely to see it as part of a wider campaign to contain its rise. “The Biden administration is committed to keeping America safe and defending America’s national security through appropriately protecting technologies that are critical to the next generation of military innovation,” the Treasury Department said in a statement. A series of expanding export controls on key technologies to China has already triggered retaliation from Beijing, which recently announced the cutoff of metals like gallium that are critical for the Pentagon’s own supply chain.
Persons: Biden, , Richard M, Nixon, Henry Kissinger Organizations: Treasury Department, U.S . Locations: China, U.S, Beijing
Murky supply chainsNot all advanced technologies are subject to Western sanctions on Russia. So, a Russian military, as well as its civilian economy, have become dependent," Sam Bendett, advisor at the Center for Naval Analyses, said. Meanwhile, sanctions on Russia are largely limited to Ukraine's Western allies, meaning that many countries continue to trade with Russia. And this is what the Russian industry as well as the Russian military and its intelligence services are taking advantage of," Bendett said. Sanctions clampdownThe burgeoning trade flows have prompted calls from Western allies to either get more countries on board with sanctions, or slap secondary sanctions on certain entities operating within those countries in a bid to stifle Russia's military strength.
Persons: Elina Ribakova, KSE, Sam Bendett, spokespeople, Bendett, Sellers Organizations: CNBC, Semiconductors, Peterson Institute for International Economics, KSE Institute, Kyiv School, Economics, United Arab, Moscow, Royal United Services Institute, U.S ., Center for Naval, Russian, Economic Security, of, CNBC Exports, Union, Russian Federation, European Union, Peterson Institute for International Locations: Russia, Moscow, China, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Russia's, U.S, Japan, Germany, Russian, microchips, Hong Kong, of Ukraine, Caucasus, Central Asia, Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan
WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - A U.S. government committee on foreign investments reviewed a record number of proposed transactions in 2022, the Treasury Department said Monday. Chinese investors filed 36 so-called "covered notices" seeking green lights for deals in 2022, compared with 44 in 2021 and 17 in 2020. CFIUS said "transactions reviewed by CFIUS, including the technology being invested in, are increasingly complex and result in more national security agreements to resolve the risks identified." Most foreigners seeking to take even non-controlling stakes in U.S. companies must seek approval from CFIUS, a powerful Treasury-led committee that reviews transactions for national security concerns and can block them. CFIUS opened 162 investigations in 2022, compared with 130 in 2021.
Persons: CFIUS, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, David Shepardson, Gerry Doyles Organizations: U.S, Treasury Department, Foreign Investment, Treasury, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, China
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
"U.S.-China competition is on the same starting line," Chipuller chairman Yang Meng said about chiplet technology in an interview with Reuters. "They can still develop 3D stacking or other chiplet technology to work around those restrictions. Beijing is rapidly exploiting chiplet technology in applications as diverse as artificial intelligence to self-driving cars, with entities from tech giant Huawei Technologies to military institutions exploring its use. About a quarter of the global chip packaging and testing market sits in China, according to Dongguan Securities. Huawei, China’s tech and chip design giant that has been put on the U.S.'s most restricted list, has been actively filing chiplet patents.
Persons: Yang Meng, Charles Shi, Needham, Yang, Needham's Shi, Chipuller, Laura Black, Melissa Mannino, Perry Bechky, Rowe, Mike Gallagher, Biden, , Chipuller's Yang, zGlue, CFIUS, Shayne Phillips, MIIT, Jane Lanhee Lee, Eduardo Baptista, Echo Wang, Stephen Nellis, Kenneth Li, Brenda Goh, Lincoln Organizations: Chipuller, Industry, Reuters, Huawei Technologies, Intel, Dongguan Securities, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Acclaim, British, Islands, Sea Investment Co, Foreign Investment, Treasury, Akin's Trade, Berliner Corcoran, Department of Commerce, Huawei, U.S, TongFu Microelectronics, JCET, Beijing ESWIN Technology Group, China’s Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, Thomson Locations: Shenzhen, China, U.S, United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Beijing, Dongguan, BakerHostetler, People's Republic of China
China is starting to show what sway it has in the semiconductor supply chain, and stocks are only starting to react. About a week ago on July 3 , China's Commerce Ministry announced export restrictions on germanium and gallium would take effect on Aug. 1. WestSummit claims about 20 billion yuan ($2.77 billion) in assets under management. China's latest export curbs follow sweeping U.S. export restrictions in October to limit Chinese businesses' access to advanced semiconductor technology. One of Delta's investments, Shanghai New Vision Microelectronics, raised just over 1 billion yuan in an initial public offering on Shanghai's Star board on June 1.
Persons: Bo Du, Du, WestSummit, Greg Ye, Ye, Wei Jianguo, Wei didn't, Brian Tycangco, Tycangco Organizations: China's Commerce Ministry, . Geological Survey, WestSummit Capital Management, CNBC, Delta Capital, Shanghai New Vision Microelectronics, Shanghai's Star, Stansberry Research, Materials, Earth Holdings Locations: China, Yunnan, U.S, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Washington, Beijing
WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) - The Pentagon holds a strategic U.S. stockpile for germanium but currently has no inventory reserves for gallium, a spokesperson said on Thursday, after China announced export restrictions on the two metals used in semiconductors. "The (Defense) Department is proactively taking steps using Defense Production Act Title III authorities to increase domestic mining and processing of critical materials for the microelectronics and space supply chain, including gallium and germanium," the spokesperson said. Germanium is used in high-speed computer chips, plastics and military applications such as night-vision devices, as well as satellite imagery sensors. Gallium is used in radar and radio communication devices, satellites and LEDs. While major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) may not buy gallium and germanium directly, they likely purchase semiconductors from suppliers who source Chinese gallium and germanium, said Arun Seraphin, executive director for the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute.
Persons: Arun Seraphin, , Dak Hardwick, Hardwick, Xi Jinping, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Valerie Insinna, Rami Ayyub, Doina Chiacu, Mark Porter, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Pentagon, China, Defense, Department, Lockheed Martin Corp, National Defense Industrial, Emerging Technologies, Aerospace Industries Association, U.S, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Thomson Locations: U.S, China
But Washington has proved to be wary of selling those countries US-made stealth fighter jets. That leaves the Gulf states with various non-US options, which don't look all that promising — at least not any time soon. A prototype of Russia's Su-75 fighter jet at the MAKS-2021 air show outside Moscow in July 2021. AP Photo/Alexander ZemlianichenkoIn 2021, shortly after unveiling its Su-75 fighter, Russia offered to co-produce the jet, which is still in development, with the UAE. While China may eventually offer its FC-31/J-35 stealth fighter for export, it must first demonstrate the jet's effectiveness to attract serious buyers.
Persons: , Sebastien Roblin, Chris Thornbury, Abraham, Abu Dhabi, FCAS, Roblin, Russia's Su, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Abu Dhabi's, Emily Hawthorne, RANE, Hawthorne, isn't, JOHANNES EISELE, Paul Iddon Organizations: Qatar —, Service, United Arab, , US Air Force, Al Dhafra, Base, Staff, Abraham Accords, Reuters, AP, East, Korea's KF, Yonhap, Cooperation Council, KF, FC, Getty Locations: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Washington, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Chris Thornbury But Washington, Israel, Riyadh, British, France, Germany, Turkey, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Abu Dhabi, Russian, North Africa, Sacheon, South Korea, Seoul, Korea, Zhuhai, AFP, China
BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - The European Commission asked EU governments on Tuesday to come up with an extra 10 billion euros for 2024-27 to leverage a total of 160 billion euros worth of investment in key technologies, including renewable energy. Nor did the EU budget anticipate the fierce competition between Europe, the United States and China for the latest "clean" technologies to produce energy. "The future of the strategic industries should be made in Europe," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in presenting the call for more money. The new scheme is to be called Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) and help develop in the EU microelectronics and quantum computing, as well as renewable energy and electricity storage, among others. ($1 = 0.9155 euros)Reporting by Jan Strupczewski and Bart Meijer, editing by Gabriela BaczynskaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Jan Strupczewski, Bart Meijer, Gabriela Baczynska Organizations: European Commission, European Union, Strategic Technologies, Europe, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Europe, United States, China
BERLIN, June 16 (Reuters) - Germany is in intensive talks with Intel (INTC.O) on plans to set up a new chip-making complex on its soil, the economy ministry said on Friday, without commenting on how much state funding the company was set to receive for the project. "The goal of the government is clear: We want to strengthen Germany as a location for microelectronics. This is highly important for transformation and technological sovereignty, and for this reason we are conducting intensive talks," a ministry spokesperson said. She did not say how much the company would receive in state subsidies for the site in the central German city of Magdeburg. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet with Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger on Monday, according to a government spokesperson.
Persons: Olaf Scholz, Pat Gelsinger, Handelsblatt, Rachel More, Miranda Murray Organizations: Intel, U.S ., Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, German, Magdeburg, U.S
June 12 (Reuters) - Chipmaker GlobalFoundries (GFS.O) and missile manufacturer Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) on Monday announced their partnership to secure domestic semiconductor supply for defense systems. The strategic collaboration will secure manufacturing across a range of advanced and next-generation chips, and will allow leveraging of GlobalFoundries' technology to increase anti-fragility in microelectronics systems and supply chains. Defense companies have been grappling with supply chain disruptions including that from global chip shortages, which continue to hurt production. Lockheed Martin along with GlobalFoundries will also pursue external funding opportunities, technology development and collaboration with the U.S. government. GlobalFoundries' manufacturing facilities in New York and Vermont have accreditation from the U.S. government and are authorized to produce secure chips used in sensitive mission systems.
Persons: Lockheed Martin, GlobalFoundries, Pratyush Thakur, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Lockheed, Monday, U.S, U.S ., Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Vermont, Bengaluru
BERLIN, June 8 (Reuters) - Over 30 microelectronics projects in Germany will receive about 4 billion euros ($4.29 billion) in funding after the European Commission approved a support scheme for such technologies, the German Economy Ministry said on Thursday. "The 31 microelectronics projects from 11 federal states strengthen Germany as a microelectronics location across the board and are an important industrial policy milestone," said Economy Minister Robert Habeck. A document provided by the German economy ministry showed Infineon (IFXGn.DE), Elmos Semiconductor (ELGG.DE) and Robert Bosch [RIC:RIC:ROBG.UL] among the companies to receive funds. The economy ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the report. ($1 = 0.9316 euros)Reporting by Miranda Murray Writing by Rachel More Editing by Madeline ChambersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Robert Habeck, Robert Bosch, Habeck, Miranda Murray, Rachel More, Madeline Chambers Organizations: European Commission, German Economy Ministry, European, Infineon, Elmos Semiconductor, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, German, Hamburg, Netherlands
BRUSSELS, June 8 (Reuters) - Fourteen European Union countries will grant up to 8.1 billion euros ($8.7 billion) in public support to 56 companies working together on projects in microelectronics and communication technologies, the European Commission said on Thursday. The projects concern "research and development projects covering microelectronics and communication technologies across the whole value chain from materials and tools to the chip designs and manufacturing processes," the EU executive said. ($1 = 0.9314 euros)Reporting by Foo Yun CheeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Foo Yun Chee Organizations: Union, European Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS
Goldman Sachs is bullish about generative artificial intelligence: It expects it will drive upside in the broader S & P 500 — and one specific corner of tech. An AI-fueled rally has already brought the S & P 500 to highs this year, but Goldman predicts there's going to be further upside. Thanks to demand for generative AI, supply of AI server equipment is likely to get a boost in the next couple of years, Goldman Sachs said in a separate report on June 1. Currently, there are around 150,000 units of generative-related AI server shipment this year — around 1% of total server shipment, according to the bank. It named buy-rated Unimicron , giving it a price target of 235 Taiwanese dollars, or upside of around 33%, as well as Kinsus (price target of 180 Taiwanese dollars, or 55% upside), Taiwan Union Technology (price target of 93 Taiwanese dollars, or 22% upside) and Elan Microelectronics (price target of 250 Taiwanese dollars, or 141% upside).
Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, there's, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Gold, Electronics, Taiwan Union Technology, Elan Microelectronics Locations: Taiwan
ANTWERP, May 16 (Reuters) - EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Tuesday touted the European Chips Act passed last month, saying Europe must manufacture its own cutting-edge computer chips and not be relegated to a position on research or in building relatively older chips. The Chips Act is Europe's answer to similar plans to encourage the manufacture of semiconductors in the U.S. and China, as well as in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. He also rejected the idea that Europe should only focus on existing strengths in making relatively older chips, mostly for its car industry. He was speaking at an event hosted by Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), one of Europe's top semiconductor research firms. He noted that the Chips Act has led to new projects planned by Intel, Infineon, STMicroelectronics and Global Foundries.
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.
UBS is upgrading Taiwanese foundry United Microelectronics from "neutral" to "buy." The Swiss investment bank raised its price target on the stock from 37 Taiwan dollars ($1.20) to NT$75, representing a potential upside of nearly 50% from its closing price on Wednesday. UMC's year-to-date rerating reflects the "increasing optimism" about the semiconductor industry's recovery and the greater profitability of the stock, the analysts said. UBS isn't the only bull UBS isn't the only bank bullish on United Microelectronics. In a note on April 19, the bank maintained its "outperform" rating on the stock and raised its price target on the stock to NT$60.
Nvidia has undoubtedly been one of the sector's biggest winners this year, but Bank of America is doubling down on a lesser-known chip stock. That's significantly higher than the average potential upside of 16.1% given by analysts covering the stock, according to FactSet data. Bank of America described the firm as a "top pick" among European auto semiconductors and said the stock remains cheaper than its peers. The bank said it believes concerns about the company's poor track record and high Apple concentration are "likely to fade over the course of the next 12-18 months" as it improves gross margins and operating margins. Apple's share of the firm's revenue is also likely to drop to around 10% by end-2024, the bank added.
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
April 12 (Reuters) - Sberbank (SBER.MM), Russia's dominant lender and a leading technology company, is finding graphics cards the trickiest hardware item to replace in the absence of Western providers, CEO German Gref said on Wednesday. Sberbank needs the cards for its artificial intelligence services and super computers and Western sanctions over Moscow's actions in Ukraine have curbed Russia's access to some technology imports. "We depend first and foremost on technology called hardware," Gref told lawmakers in the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament. "And probably the most critical position is graphics cards, microelectronics - video cards for high-performance computing." In the absence of Western imports, local companies have enhanced efforts to increase domestic production and cushion the blow.
Synopsys spreads AI throughout its chip design tools
  + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
Synopsys first released an AI tool for one part of the chip design process three years ago, and with customers like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and ST Microelectronics (STM.DE) using the system. The tools Synopsys released Wednesday at its annual user conference in Santa Clara, California, spread much further across the chip design process. Synopsys is in a race with Cadence Design Systems (CDNS.O), its largest competitor, to add AI to chip design software. While some of the Synopsys tools released Wednesday are catching up to Cadence, Karl Freund, principal analyst with Cambrian AI research, said Synopsys is ahead, with more than 100 chips by customers using its AI tools coming to market. "I think they'll probably be at 1,000 (completed chip designs) by the end of the year."
BRASILIA, March 24 (Reuters) - Brazil will seek Chinese technology and investment to develop a semiconductor industry in the South American country despite U.S. attempts to discourage association with China in this area, a senior presidential adviser told Reuters. Semiconductors will be a priority on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to China next week. Lula's trip will seek Chinese cooperation in fostering Brazil's sustainable development and digital economy. We are not afraid of the big bad wolf," he commented, when asked about U.S. discouragement of technology deals with China. Lula is expected to visit the factory of Huawei Technologies, the Chinese telecommunications giant that has been operating in Brazil for 20 years.
Factbox: Global firms with exposure to collapsed SVB
  + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +7 min
March 13 (Reuters) - Startup-focused lender SVB Financial Group (SIVB.O) became the largest bank to fail since the 2008 financial crisis last week, sending shockwaves across global markets as billions of dollars belonging to companies and investors were left stranded. The collapse raised concerns that the end of decades-long era of cheap money would reveal cracks in the global financial system as climbing interest rates expose vulnerabilities in the economy. HSBC (HSBA.L) said on Monday it is acquiring the UK subsidiary of SVB for 1 pound, rescuing a key lender for technology start-ups in Britain. Below is a list of companies across the globe that have revealed their exposure to SVB:EUROPEAround 16 tech and life sciences companies in Europe have disclosed about $190 million in exposure to SVB in the UK and the United States. Moonpig adds that SVB UK is one of ten lenders that provide senior debt facilities to the group as part of a strong banking syndicateASIA-PACIFICNITRO SOFTWARE (NTO.AX)Australia's productivity software maker Nitro Software Ltd (NTO.AX) said it had about $12.18 million of its global cash reserves held on deposit at SVB.
Factbox: Which companies are affected by SVB collapse?
  + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +6 min
ROKU (ROKU.O)Streaming devices maker says it has about $487 million, or 26% of its cash and cash equivalents, held in deposits with SVB. CIRCLEUS cryptocurrency firm Circle says $3.3 billion of its $40 billion of USD Coin reserves are at SVB. BLOCKFIBankrupt crypto lender BlockFi Inc has roughly $227 million in unprotected funds at SVB, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. VIR BIOTECHNOLOGY (VIR.O)Biotech firm says it maintains operating accounts at SVB with about $220 million as of Friday. EUROPEAround 16 tech and life sciences companies in Europe have disclosed about $190 million in exposure to SVB in the UK and the United States.
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