Reported 11 months ago
B. Riley Wealth Chief Market Strategist Art Hogan believes that the S&P 500's strong performance this year is not solely dependent on tech giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple. Hogan expects the market to broaden its success in sectors like energy, financials, utilities, and industrials. He foresees higher-than-expected second-quarter GDP growth and anticipates the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in September. Hogan notes that investors prioritize strong economic data and earnings over frequent rate cuts, showing confidence in the market's ability to perform well without being overly reliant on the Fed's monetary policy.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
The European Union has charged Apple under the Digital Markets Act for alleged unfair restrictions in its App Store, which might result in fines. Analyst Bob O'Donnell believes any stock reaction to the news is premature as the investigation could last until March 2025. He expects Apple to make necessary tweaks to comply with EU requirements, indicating that the long-term impact on the company's value and stock view may not be substantial. Investors seem to be taking the news in stride, with Apple's stock slightly up. Apple's potential partnership with Meta in AI development and its cautious approach in integrating OpenAI into Siri are also discussed in the analysis.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
Pop singer Chappell Roan, in a TikTok video, expressed gratitude for the support she has received from fellow pop stars after her recent rise to fame. She mentioned how impressed she was by the unity and support among women in the pop industry and how it made her believe in the world. While she did not specify who reached out, singer Sabrina Carpenter recently mentioned listening to Roan's music often and even covered one of her songs. Roan's openness about her struggles with newfound fame was highlighted in a recent concert and interview, showcasing the emotional journey of navigating success.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
根據《People》的報導，Kevin Bacon和Kyra Sedwick在PBS的《Lemon Sky》片場相遇，1988年結婚，現在育有兩個孩子。他們在接受《People》訪問時分享了為何他們的婚姻能持續三十多年的原因：「我們一直是彼此最大的支持者和粉絲。」
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
Noah Wyle, who portrayed Dr. John Carter on 'ER,' recalled a defining moment when the cast realized the show's potential success during an upfronts screening of the pilot episode. Despite initial doubts, the show became a massive hit from its premiere in 1994 until its conclusion in 2009. Wyle also shared how he avoided becoming a target of George Clooney's pranks by staying at the table longer to prevent falling victim to Clooney's tricks. Additionally, Wyle praised Clooney for fostering camaraderie among the cast by emphasizing professionalism and unity on and off the set.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 260 points while the Nasdaq Composite dropped over 190 points in Monday's trading. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was dragged down by Nvidia's continued sell-off, causing a 1.10% decline. This divergence between the two indices has been a recurring theme for weeks, with tech stocks like Nvidia and chip companies facing notable underperformance. On the other hand, sectors like energy and utilities saw gains, with cannabis, small oil, and regional banks also performing well. Additionally, the crypto market experienced significant losses, with Bitcoin dropping by 7%.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
In response to the financial technology trend, New Life Insurance actively implements digital innovation while providing friendly financial services. They introduced the 24-hour AI intelligent customer service robot 'Xiaoxin' in 2017, optimizing customer experience through big data. Recently, they obtained the first Accessibility Web AA Label certification in the insurance industry, ensuring equal and convenient digital insurance services for all customers. New Life Insurance's commitment to digital inclusivity and ESG fairness is evident in their continuous enhancements, including the upgraded 'Xiaoxin' 2.0 with BERT technology. They focus on meeting diverse customer needs, such as optimizing services for disabled and elderly customers, achieving high satisfaction rates and numerous awards, showcasing their leadership in the insurance industry through sustainable innovation and customer-centric AI technology application.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
In response to government policies promoting cultural industry development, Taiwan Cooperative Bank partnered with Yiwran Puppet Theater to hold a charity performance at Xin Xing Elementary School in Tamsui, New Taipei City on June 21st, supporting local arts and culture. The bank actively supports Taiwan's traditional arts and culture by organizing events like screening the movie 'Su Huan-chin' for customers and inviting the renowned puppeteer Lee Tien-lu's Yiwran Puppet Theater to perform. Through such initiatives, the bank demonstrates its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
Provided by Yuanta Futures, compiled by Huang Yanhong on June 24, 2024, at 4:10 PM. The U.S. Department of Energy reported on the 20th that as of the 14th, U.S. commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 2.5 million barrels to 450 million barrels, a 4% decrease from the five-year average for the same period. Gasoline inventories decreased by 2.3 million barrels to 231.2 million barrels, a 1% decrease from the five-year average, and distillate inventories dropped by 1.7 million barrels to 120 million barrels, an 8% decrease from the five-year average. Recent crude oil futures prices have rebounded, with WTI and Brent crude reaching recent highs due to increased geopolitical risks such as ongoing drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure by Ukraine and escalating conflicts between Israeli and Iran-backed Hezbollah forces. The Israeli military has approved plans to invade Lebanon, raising concerns about wider war outbreaks that may disrupt crude oil flows from the Middle East, leading to significant price volatility. Investors can participate in the market through the Taiwan Futures Exchange's Brent Crude Futures (BRF) denominated in New Taiwan dollars, which offer trading hours covering overnight sessions to fully accommodate the trading needs of major international crude oil futures markets like Europe and the U.S.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
Senvion Energy's subsidiary in Singapore, Baowei Maritime Engineering, successfully brought the 4,000-ton heavy lift vessel 'Hercules' to Taiwan on June 22, 2024, to start work on offshore wind power projects. With the goal of having thousands of wind turbines at sea in Taiwan in the future, Senvion Energy sees promising opportunities for operation and maintenance in the industry. The company marked a significant milestone with the commencement of maritime engineering operations for Taiwan Power Company's 294.5MW offshore wind power project, which is expected to provide green electricity equivalent to the consumption of nearly 240,000 households annually, reducing carbon emissions by around 500,000 tons per year.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
In the context of the escalating technology competition between the US and China, Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian nations are aggressively developing their semiconductor industries with various strategies such as attracting foreign investment, establishing large industrial parks, and navigating through trade restrictions. For Taiwan, these developments pose both opportunities and challenges. This article focuses on the current status of the semiconductor industry competition as reported by journalists who visited Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, highlighting efforts by countries like South Korea and Japan to reclaim their positions in the global chip industry amid intensifying tensions between the US and China. Measures include massive investments, development of semiconductor clusters, and government support to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain in these countries.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
Xinguo from Nantian Gas (8908) is expanding its operations into solar energy and real estate, alongside its core natural gas business. Xinguo has completed a 21MW solar photovoltaic system and is ready to sell electricity. In real estate, the 'Dunpin III' project in the Nan District of Tainan City is expected to be completed and contribute to revenue in the fourth quarter. Xinguo, with a merged revenue of 6.959 billion last year and an EPS of 1.83 yuan, will distribute cash dividends of 0.8 yuan and stock dividends of 0.8 yuan per share after the shareholders' meeting on the 24th. Xinguo's General Manager Wang Dingzhong stated that while natural gas sales are the main revenue source, the company is investing in solar energy to transform gradually into an energy company in response to government renewable energy policies.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
TSMC's first and second 2nm plants in Kaohsiung are under construction and have been initiated, respectively. The third Kaohsiung P3 plant with a land size of 17.22 hectares has been approved by the Kaohsiung City Urban Planning Committee to be changed to a Class A Industrial Zone. After passing the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and soil pollution removal listing, TSMC can apply for a construction permit to start building the third 2nm plant. The Kaohsiung City Government is working towards transforming the area into a hub for semiconductor material research and development, aligning with the government's plan to establish the Southern Science Park Kaohsiung Third Park (Nanzu Park) in response to global semiconductor industry supply chain transformations and demands.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
The Federal Reserve will announce the results of stress tests on 32 banks on June 26, which will determine their capital requirements and ability to increase dividends and stock buybacks. Analysts expect the results to be similar to last year (all passing). Even if banks pass the tests, they are likely to adopt cautious capital return strategies due to uncertain economic outlook and regulatory rules. Investors are closely watching the results as it impacts banks' ability to distribute more dividends. Major banks like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America are being tested along with smaller banks like Huntington. All 23 banks tested in 2023 passed, showing resilience in severe economic downturns. However, banks may still face restrictions in returning capital if found to have insufficient capital. While regulatory authorities are pushing for higher capital requirements to mitigate economic risks, banks view it as unnecessary burden and urge regulators to withdraw the proposal. Analysts at Piper Sandler and Raymond James expect banks to be cautious in managing capital and anticipate moderate increases in stock buybacks and dividends. With economic uncertainty, a significant uptick in overall capital return is unlikely.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
On June 24, 2024, the major indexes of the US stock market continued to reach new highs with foreign investment banks raising their target prices for the S&P500 index. Large technology stocks have been driving the market higher, especially with the improving economy and the growth of AI-related industries increasing investor risk appetite. It is recommended to regularly invest in American technology funds as the market trend is expected to continue, with a focus on new technological applications. Various tech funds managers also shared insights on the AI and cloud computing sectors, emphasizing the importance of memory technologies like HBM for GPUs and ASICs. The tech industry is experiencing rapid growth as reflected in the performance of indices like the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. Despite the tech sector's stock prices hitting new highs, company earnings do not indicate overheating. Projections show a significant increase in profit rates for the BIG7 companies, suggesting continued growth potential and a positive impact on the US economy and stock market. Various fund managers provided investment recommendations and discussed industry trends and opportunities, such as NVIDIA's product roadmap and the potential in AI server and data center infrastructure growth.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
To prevent financial market turmoil due to the real estate crisis, the Chinese government is reportedly planning to establish a new rescue fund, potentially amounting to billions of yuan, to assist troubled financial institutions in order to prevent sudden closures. The plan is expected to be announced by the end of this year, aimed at addressing concerns over financial instability arising from the default of major real estate developers like Evergrande and Country Garden. The fund would be mainly funded by financial industry companies, with the People's Bank of China offering low-interest loans to expand the fund if needed.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
The editorial discusses the escalating trade tensions, with the EU imposing punitive tariffs on Chinese electric car manufacturers like BYD, signaling a potential trade protection war. Despite the imminent threat, China has shown restraint and is strategizing retaliatory measures carefully to gain leverage in negotiations. By using electric cars as bargaining chips and engaging in detailed negotiations with European counterparts, China aims to potentially avert a full-blown trade war. The key lies in finding mutually beneficial solutions through negotiations, which could potentially turn the looming global trade war into a positive outcome, as efforts are being made on both sides for substantive discussions to defuse the crisis.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
Taiwanese telecommunications company iPhoton announces the signing of a strategic memorandum with Amsterdam Internet Exchange AMS-IX, ranked third globally, and ICT service operator HGC. With prominent private submarine cable systems in the Asia-Pacific region already converging in iPhoton, the collaboration aims to elevate iPhoton to become the East Asia digital hub and AI cloud application center. AMS-IX, with 920 members, partners with HGC in Asia; Taipei Internet Exchange Center (TPIX), led by iPhoton, ranks 82 globally, serving members such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Through this partnership, TPIX members can expand network resources in markets like Hong Kong, facilitated by HGC’s global network infrastructure. The collaboration is expected to enhance traffic exchange and boost transcultural Internet ecosystem growth.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
On June 24, 2024, at 4:10 PM, First Financial Investment Trust and South Korea's QRAFT Financial Technology jointly released the weekly financial risk sentiment signals. The report indicates that the cash level for US stocks is at 0%, reflecting a bullish market sentiment with indicators leaning completely towards positivity. Likewise, Taiwan stocks have a 1.3% cash level, also indicating a bullish sentiment with most indicators trending positively. The analysis suggests a stable bullish trend in the US financial markets with no major negative risk signals identified. The report suggests that Taiwan stocks are benefiting from strong performance in technology and high-value stocks, maintaining low cash allocations with an overall bullish trend and a need to watch for short-term fluctuations, especially in semiconductor-related stocks.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
Peng Weilin/Taipei reported on June 24, 2024, at 4:10 pm, the Apple iPhone 16 series is set to be released in the fall, featuring AI applications that will spark a new wave of upgrades. Merry (2439) hit a new high in intraday trading on the 24th, with foreign net purchases of 3,902 lots, drawing attention to its future prospects. Merry's revenue in May was NT$3.512 billion, up 11.51% year-on-year, with accumulated revenue from January to May reaching NT$15.376 billion, a 19.61% increase from the previous year. Analysts predict a 20% increase in revenue for the second quarter, with higher headphone sales contributing to a gross profit margin surpassing the first quarter's 12.57% and an EPS exceeding NT$2. They noted that the demand for headphones, particularly entertainment and gaming headsets, continues to rise, supported by new products and orders from major American customers. Merry emphasized that this year's headphone product momentum is being driven by entertainment, commercial, and gaming headsets, with strong demand for headphones, low customer inventories, and continuous order additions leading to overall revenue growth. * [Warrant investments come with risks. The information provided here is for reference only and does not constitute an invitation, solicitation, or any other advice or recommendation. Readers are advised to use caution.] For more Commercial Times reports: Sanli Multifaceted Assistance Boosts TSMC's Dominance in PCB Industry Embracing Digital Transformation Epidemic Collaboration for Information Modeling Public Funds Shows Brand Effects in Regular Investment
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
Taiwanese stocks took a significant dive on June 24, with ETFs following suit. Market cap ETFs and semiconductor ETFs were hit the hardest, while dividend-focused ETFs remained relatively stable and active in trading. In contrast, bond ETFs saw 81 out of 88 ETFs ending the day in the green, becoming a top choice for hedging during the stock market's high volatility. With the market showing signs of high-end fluctuation and the Fed's interest rate cuts becoming clearer, investors are expected to continue pouring into bond ETFs. The current advice suggests buying on dips and maintaining a balanced investment strategy, focusing on AI-related tech stocks and industries on the rise.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
NVIDIA's CEO, Huang Renxun, recently sold 720,000 shares of NVIDIA stock, cashing out over $90 million as NVIDIA's stock price soared by 156% this year. Huang Renxun and other chip company CEOs, including Micron and Qualcomm, took advantage of the booming stock market to sell their own company stocks. While NVIDIA's stock price fell by 2.4% to $123.52 on June 24th, Huang Renxun plans to sell up to 600,000 shares before March next year. Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra sold 457,280 shares, making $52 million, and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon sold 40,500 shares, making $6.9 million. Coherent's former CEO, Vincent D. Mattera Jr., also sold 15,000 shares, cashing out $846,700.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
The Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan announced on June 24, 2024, that the industrial production and manufacturing indices for May showed a shift to negative growth in the machinery equipment industry and the automotive sector and its components. This was attributed to varying degrees of destocking downstream leading to unstable long-term demand and reduced production levels in the automotive industry due to destocking differences among European and American customers. Despite this, semiconductor expansion helped offset some of the decline in production equipment and components, while the electric car segment in the automotive industry saw increased production. The deputy director of the statistical bureau at the Ministry of Economic Affairs analyzed that the machinery and automotive parts industries have been fluctuating around the breakeven point this year, with the semiconductor sector showing faster recovery and strong investment momentum.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
President Lai Ching-te announced the parliament's expansion of authority bill on June 24, 2024, which has raised concerns among chip industry engineers. They fear that companies like TSMC might be forced to disclose business secrets if summoned for investigation. President Lai expressed that the law, which grants lawmakers new investigative powers over government agencies, corporations, and individuals, has prompted worries among businesses and international stakeholders about the potential leakage of trade secrets. He believes this could negatively impact Taiwan's international competitiveness and foreign investments, leading him to seek a constitutional interpretation to protect privacy rights and business secrets.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 11 months ago
In a move to enhance collaboration in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), UMC Group, together with Arm and Intel, is rising as a formidable force in the TSMC alliance. Intel's partnership with UMC is expected to accelerate the adoption of TSMC's design services, coinciding with the restart of mature process wafer fabs, signaling an impending market recovery in the second half of the year. With UMC Group forming a tripartite alliance, TSMC becomes a key supplier of ASICs and critical IPs, earning projects in custom AI chips and venturing into the automotive market with promising prospects. Their participation in the International Design Automation Conference showcases next-gen ASIC solutions, along with insights into collaborations with Arm in automotive ASIC development and HPC SoC fields. UMC reveals successes in advanced 3D IC packaging integration, securing AI custom chip projects, positioning themselves for growth. As chip design enters a decisive era relying on EDA tools, key players like Synopsys, Cadence, and Siemens dominate the market share, yet recent trends involve close cooperation between chip designers and foundries where Taiwanese firms like TSMC, M31, and Andes Technology have made significant contributions. UMC's demonstration of Design Implementation Service (DIS) and tailored 3D IC packaging integration services at the event highlights their strong design capabilities, earning recognition from Samsung's foundries. They showcase collaborative achievements with Arm, marking their foray into the automotive sector with the latest Cortex-A720AE IP to develop AI-supported vehicle ASICs, while also entering advanced processes developing a 64-core custom SoC using Arm Neoverse Compute Subsystem (CSS) running on Intel 18A technology.
Source: YAHOO