Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited — the leading AI-era chip foundry
Waymo has opened its autonomous taxi app to the public in Dallas, enabling riders to hail robotaxis in the city. The rollout follows earlier tests and pauses caused by heavy rain, with service expected to resume for airport operations soon.
A wave of AI hardware standards and physics-focused models is driving enterprise adoption, with startups and giants racing to interoperate tools, open standards, and better data for real-world AI deployments. Updates cover new hardware interfaces, robotics training advances, and the shift from cloud-only AI to agents operating in physical environments.
Nvidia has acquired a minority stake in Cloverleaf Infrastructure and has announced a partnership to help build data‑centre sites. The move follows Nvidia’s recent $1.5 billion investment in an Ohio data‑centre project and signals the company is directly financing and developing the power and site infrastructure that supports demand for its AI chips.
Nvidia has reported stronger-than-expected results, guiding to 70% revenue growth for fiscal 2028 amid robust AI demand. Amazon plans to buy 2 million Nvidia GPUs, underscoring sustained AI infrastructure buildout. Analysts note the market is reassessing hype around AI as Nvidia shows durable demand and a diversified customer base.
ASML’s High NA EUV lithography machines, costing about $400 million each, are being adopted by Samsung, TSMC and Intel to print ever-smaller chip features for AI data centers and consumer devices. The move accelerates a global shift toward next-generation photolithography, with industry-wide capacity expansion on the horizon.
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.
The Alaska LNG project is touted by President Trump as a major energy bridge linking Alaska, Taiwan, and the United States. Taiwan’s CPC Corp. has signed a plan to buy LNG from Alaska and invest up to $4.4 billion, with first supply anticipated around 2032. The claims come as Trump rallies in Alaska push for support ahead of a midterm election, while officials caution on project timelines and feasibility.
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.
Harvard University’s endowment has posted a strong fiscal year 2026 performance, driven by a 27.1% return and a new SpaceX stake, while federal policy changes threaten future funding. The endowment totals near $68 billion, surpassing the S&P 500 in its period gains.
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.
China’s authorities have expanded liquidity support and signalled measures to stabilise the stock market after October’s sell-off. The PBOC has introduced a one-year swap facility for institutional investors to exchange illiquid assets for liquid ones, with about 100 billion yuan sought by 31 institutions. Regulators are also cutting costs for share buybacks and contemplating more stimulus to restore confidence.
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.
The United States and China have extended a fragile trade truce as midterm dynamics shape leverage. Washington has kept a cautious stance while Beijing signals readiness to offer concessions, with talks focused on timing and scope ahead of two scheduled meetings in Shenzhen and Miami.
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.
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.
Prime minister Andy Burnham has appointed Dame Madeleine Alessandri as a special representative on climate security and will announce the post at COP31 in Antalya today. The role will task Alessandri with advising the government on national security risks from the climate crisis; Burnham will also back a 35% electrification target for 2035 and mobilise private finance for clean energy.