South Korean memory chip giant shaping AI hardware
Apple has disclosed ongoing supply constraints for its new iPhone Duo, which launched on Oct. 23. While demand has been strong, shipments will remain limited as components such as memory chips are in short supply. The company has reported record quarterly iPhone sales but warns that memory costs and production bottlenecks could press margins.
Apple has confirmed a high-end focus for its September event, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max as the main attractions and a foldable iPhone Ultra expected to be unveiled. The base iPhone 18 is delayed to spring 2027, while AirPods and other components face supply and price pressures.
A coordinated U.S.-Japan intervention in late July has only temporarily strengthened the yen. The currency has given back roughly half the gains from the operation and is trading near ¥159–¥160 to the dollar as of mid-August. Analysts say the yield gap between U.S. and Japanese debt and Japan's domestic policy mix are keeping downward pressure on the yen.
An AI-focused hedge fund called Situational Awareness has reportedly lost about 67% in a month and sold most of its public portfolio to Ken Griffin’s Citadel. The fund’s debt-fuelled, highly leveraged bets on chipmakers and AI firms has forced the sale and has prompted Wall Street to reassess concentrated AI exposures.
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has posted a record first-half profit of about $185 billion as markets rally in tech names. It has disclosed a 0.05% stake in SpaceX, valuing the position at just over $1.2 billion, while its larger holdings include Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft. NBIM says the fund remains globally diversified and long-term oriented.
Global markets have steadied as US retail data suggests consumer spending is softer while inflation trends remain in check. Traders are watching for Federal Reserve guidance as major indices hover near records after a week of mixed signals across equities, bonds and currencies.
Memory prices for DRAM and related chips have spiked as demand from AI-focused data centers, smartphones and consoles outpaces supply. Producers are locking up long-term memory supply, raising costs for consumer devices and cloud services. Apple is testing CXMT memory amid broader price pressures.
Nvidia is in talks to invest up to $3 billion in SB Energy, SoftBank’s unit, for a large OpenAI-backed data center project in Ohio. The move aims to support around $100 billion in credit, with initial funding split across signing and an upcoming IPO. SB Energy plans to go public next month, potentially raising at least $5 billion. Reuters notes that CNBC and The Information report earnings and timelines for the deal, but verification remains pending.
South Korea has said the U.S. Marine Corps notified Seoul in June that it cannot deploy forces for the biennial Ssangyong amphibious exercise because U.S. forces are tied up by operations in the Middle East. Seoul and Washington are consulting on when to resume training. The move follows U.S. cuts to other joint drills and recent North Korean missile launches.
Union members have rejected a tentative deal, prompting renewed negotiations as labor tensions intensify across the tech sector and manufacturing. Reports indicate the rejection will delay agreement, heightening pressure on employers to offer better terms.
Fujifilm has opened a new fabrication building in Japan to triple production of post-CMP cleaners used in semiconductor wafer processing, addressing supply bottlenecks triggered by global data-center expansion.
US oil has extended gains in a rally across a eighth straight session, while US equity futures are mixed. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 have slipped, led by industrials and consumer discretionary names, as investors await the Fed’s next move amid ongoing inflation considerations. Market watchers expect the Fed to act later this month depending on jobs data and inflation trends.
Oil prices have surged as tensions in the Middle East intensify, pushing Brent above $100 a barrel while U.S. stocks retreat amid higher energy costs. Traders await inflation data and Federal Reserve signals as markets reassess risk.
A Seoul court has ordered Kwon Hyuk-bin to transfer a 35% stake in Smilegate to his ex-wife Lee Hwa-jin and to pay 65 billion won in cash as part of the couple’s divorce settlement. The ruling values the stake at about 2.5 trillion won and acknowledges Lee’s long-term childcare and household contributions. Both sides can challenge the decision.
The iPhone Duo and other iPhone models have seen price increases as AI-driven demand for memory chips tightens supply, raising costs across consumer electronics. Analysts note this follows broader price rises in the iPhone lineup and shrinking smartphone volumes globally.
Micron has announced its strongest-ever rewards for about 60,000 employees globally, including a NT$1 million cash bonus for Taiwan-based staff and annual equity grants. Taiwan unions are seeking changes to profit-sharing, with ongoing talks risking a broader strike near Taipei.
Samsung and SK Hynix shares fall more than 3% as DeepSeek says it has reduced high-bandwidth memory in its AI models, dimming investors’ optimism after July’s rebound and amid rate-hike fears.
Global markets waver as AI-linked stocks retreat after OpenAI signals a potential year-end stock sale delay. SoftBank jumps on OpenAI ties; oil prices rise amid Middle East tensions. Wall Street edges lower as investors weigh safety over growth.
President Donald Trump has dismissed calls from AI leaders to slow frontier development, attacked Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Truth Social and called safety concerns a "hoax" and a "sick conspiracy." His posts have coincided with a sell-off in AI-linked stocks and intensified debate over regulation and US competition with China.
Investors are recalibrating as AI executives urge caution on frontier development, sparking wide stock swings. A mix of weaker chip profits, higher oil prices and looming rate hikes are shaping a safer, slower AI era, while the potential IPOs and data-centre demand face renewed scrutiny.
Memory-chip makers SK Hynix and Intel are exploring options to manufacture memory chips in the United States, including leasing space at Intel’s Ohio plant or forming a joint venture with cloud providers. Reuters notes potential government scrutiny; no decisions have been finalized.
The government has seen its popularity decline to a fresh record low as foreign policy tensions and domestic economic pressures weigh on public sentiment. Officials are under pressure as investors watch the AI and chip sectors amid concerns over property prices and growth.
Oura has postponed its U.S. IPO plan, citing uncertainty in the IPO market. The health-tech ring maker had aimed to raise up to $2.2 billion and list on Nasdaq. Executives say the move reflects current macro headwinds, including rising bond yields and AI spending concerns.
Global chip stocks have pulled back as investors weigh the cost of AI infrastructure against earnings and debt. SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics have fallen sharply in Korea, while SoftBank and Tokyo Electron face selling pressure in Japan amid broader tech declines tied to higher borrowing costs and inflation data.
Global markets are volatile as AI-linked shares retreat amid funding risks. SK Hynix’s Solidigm reviews have been halted due to market conditions, while other AI infra players face investor scrutiny. The Kospi, Nasdaq, and European indices are all showing declines as inflation and rate expectations fuel selling.
Investors are re-evaluating the AI hardware boom as neoclouds struggle with debt-funded expansion. Companies such as CoreWeave face scrutiny over finances, while the broader sector faces higher financing costs and cautious lending. The market shift follows mixed results from AI infrastructure players and softening sentiment after a string of debt-fueled capex plans.
South Korea’s SK Hynix has reported record Q3 earnings, with operating profit up 632% year on year to 83.33 trillion won and revenue up 328% to 104.62 trillion won, driven by demand for AI memory chips. The results have sparked a broader tech rally, with Samsung, Nvidia and related memory ETFs rising as markets reassess AI infrastructure demand. Investors are watching next week’s reports from Samsung and others for further clarity on memory demand.
AMD has reported better-than-expected earnings driven by data center demand, with revenue up 45% year over year and data center sales nearly doubling. The company forecasts fourth-quarter revenue around $17 billion, with a gross margin near 55%. Analyst concern centers on demand trends and Intel’s guidance, as the AI chip race accelerates.
Taiwanese memory makers Winbond and Macronix see record earnings as demand grows for specialized chips. Yet supply constraints persist, with lead times for critical tools exceeding two years and new capacity not online until 2029-2030. China’s CXMT advances its DRAM roadmap as US restrictions bite, while global tungsten supply disruptions ripple through AI hardware chains.
Palantir has reported $2.31 billion in revenue, with commercial revenue surpassing government revenue for the first time. The quarter shows 96% year-over-year growth, driven by AI software adoption, but contracts are increasingly short-term. Analysts remain divided on the stock’s long-term trajectory.
Global AI-driven tech shares retreat after a recent rally, with SK Hynix, Samsung, and TSMC among steeper fallers; analysts cite renewed concerns over AI infrastructure spending and potential tightening of data-center regulations following the US midterm results.
The Nasdaq 100 has fallen sharply, erasing trillions in value as AI-heavy tech leads the sell-off. Nasdaq down for the session; Nvidia and Tesla are among the hardest hit as regional and global markets wobble amid regulatory and growth concerns.