Reported 8 months ago
On June 18, 2024, Vice President Xiao Meiqin emphasized the importance of digitization, technology, and intelligence in President Lai Ching-te's 'National Hope Project.' She expressed the need for every Taiwanese to have the ability to utilize AI to enhance work efficiency, emphasizing the importance of humans controlling AI rather than being replaced by it. Xiao Meiqin highlighted the challenges faced by Taiwan and discussed the development of the e-commerce and digital economy industries with the Taiwan Internet and E-Commerce Industry Development Association (TiEA), aiming for balanced and inclusive growth in Taiwan's overall development.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Various central banks around the world have implemented monetary policies that effectively control inflation, while economic growth has slowed down. Despite this, institutional investors are optimistic about investment opportunities in both stocks and bonds in the second half of the year, but they are cautious of the risks of overvaluation. Key points include the expectation of interest rate cuts by major central banks, a preference for high-quality credit bonds like Euro investment-grade bonds, positive outlook on European small and mid-cap stocks, and a strategy of combining quality equities with investment-grade bonds to manage risks and enhance returns.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Unicomp (5258), an electronic payment system manufacturer, expects a fruitful outcome in the fourth quarter as mentioned by Chairman Hsin Hua-hsi during the shareholder meeting on June 18, 2024. Anticipating a strong performance in the second half of the year, Unicomp has established subsidiaries in the Middle East and Australia, focusing on research, production capacity, and product quality to meet the growing demands of frontline customers and the market. With a record-high revenue of NT$8.045 billion and EPS of NT$8.65 last year, Unicomp is optimistic about the continuous trend of device upgrades, particularly towards Android devices, which contribute to the company's operational growth. Unicomp has secured opportunities to cooperate with three to five major projects and is looking forward to a promising year ahead, with signs of recovery in the industrial computer industry and expectations of surpassing previous shipment levels for the year.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
NATO has confirmed its direct investment in four European technology companies to assist in addressing defense, security, and resilience challenges. These companies are the first recipients of funding from the €1 billion NATO Innovation Fund (NIF). Established in the summer of 2022, NIF aims to strengthen defense capabilities through technology and promote innovation in areas such as new materials, manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and space technology. The four companies receiving investments from NIF include ARX Robotics, Fractile AI, iCOMAT, and Space Forge, each contributing specialized technology to enhance NATO's strategic capabilities.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
On June 18, 2024, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the TSMC effect has led to a significant rise in housing prices, with average transaction prices already exceeding 4 million per unit. It is predicted that properties with a prime view of Love River could see prices surpassing 5 million and even reaching 6 million per unit. Various large-scale residential projects are being launched along the Love River, turning the area into a battleground for real estate developments. The escalating prices in the area indicate a trend towards 5 to 6 million per unit, attracting both first-time buyers and investors.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Explore shopping deals in the tropical paradise of Malaysia during the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival held from June 15 to July 31, with over 70 participating vendors offering discounts as low as 1.5% off. The launch event took place in Kuala Lumpur on June 7, officiated by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture YB Khairul Firdaus bin Akbar Khan and attended by various media, influencers, and travel industry representatives from nearly ten countries. The Malaysian government aims to boost tourism and shopping experiences, partnering with Mastercard to promote Malaysia as a top shopping destination and stimulate the national economy, with an expected travel income of up to RM 102.7 billion (approximately NT$706 billion) in 2024.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Liang Wei's Chairman, Lee Chunzheng, anticipates AI PC to emerge this year, becoming a new growth driver for this and next year. Due to the AI server opportunity, server revenue has surged from 23% to nearly 40%. Liang Wei is benefiting greatly from AI server opportunities, with AWS being a major contributor to revenue. The company is expected to gain another CSP certification by the end of this year. Additionally, Liang Wei is expanding production in Thailand to meet orders, and Dyson's production lines are set to double this year. Looking ahead, Liang Wei's performance in the second half of the year is expected to surpass the first half, with estimated gross margin and revenue showing steady improvement compared to last year.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Yagu Yacht (7566) recorded an earning of NT$0.13 per share last year with no dividend distribution approved by shareholders at the meeting on June 18, 2024, where director elections were also held, and Chairman Hou Youlin was successfully re-elected. In addition to yacht piers in Kaohsiung, Penghu, and Tainan, Yagu Yacht is expanding its presence to Taichung and Taipei, aiming to create a 'blue water highway' and promote the development of Taiwan's yacht and sailing industry. General Manager Huang Meiling of Yagu Yacht expressed commitment to promoting the leisure industry and actively expanding water mooring facilities. The plan for the Taichung Yacht Harbor Pier is set to commence construction in the second half of this year, and Yagu Yacht has obtained the operating rights for the Taipei International Yacht Pier, gradually completing the layout of yacht piers across Taiwan.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
SLM (8473) in the construction sector with nearly billions in worth, showing stable operational growth momentum, attracting institutional and speculative buying on dips, with the stock price breaking above the 5-day average and quarterly line on June 18 at 43.55 yuan, firmly positioned above all short averages. Short-term weekly trend has reversed upwards, while the monthly downtrend is converging. Trading volume is increasing, 9-day KD trend remains above, indicating strong upward momentum in the short term. However, many trapped chips remain at previous high levels of 47-51 yuan, requiring sustained increase in trading volume for further price surges. With focus on operations related to recycled water in recent years, SLM has secured contracts for the construction and operation of the Nanzih Recycled Water Plant in Kaohsiung, with opportunities for winning bids in public water resource construction projects such as various desalination plants. Market expects bids in Tainan and Hsinchu projects. For more news, please refer to Commercial Times.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Keystone A-Class corporate bond (00950B), tracking the Bloomberg Global USD A-Class corporate bond index, has an average coupon rate of 5.41% and average yield of 5.58% as of the end of May. It is the first ex-dividend monthly interest-paying bond ETF in Taiwan, allowing investors to plan their cash flows more effectively by combining with other income-generating investment products. With the Federal Reserve freezing interest rates, the ETF presents an investment opportunity to capitalize on market conditions. Considering the historical performance of global A-Class corporate bonds and US Treasury bonds since 2010, the ETF shows higher returns, lower volatility, and better risk-return ratios, indicating superior investment benefits over US bonds. Fund manager Zheng Hanrong emphasizes the favorable conditions for bond investments with cooling inflation and rising rate cut expectations, recommending investors to seize the current high yield points for entry.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
The Taiwan-US tax agreement, described as a 'bilateral agreement that is not a bilateral agreement,' requires both countries to amend their domestic laws for reciprocity. The agreement focuses on providing benefits to the US side, lowering tax rates for specific US source income for Taiwanese residents, exempting certain wages and related income in the US for Taiwanese residents under certain conditions, and specifying that only income effectively connected to business activities in the US for Taiwanese residents is subject to US federal tax, aligning with US policy to encourage Taiwanese businesses to set up manufacturing plants in the US. However, challenges in implementation include interpretations of terms and unresolved issues that require further negotiation between the two sides.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Benefiting from the development of AI driving corporate capital investment, global economic momentum is on the rise with major stock indices like the US, Europe, Taiwan, and India hitting historical new highs in the second quarter. Market expectations for interest rate cuts this year have decreased due to the strong US economy and lower-than-expected inflation, suggesting a steady growth in the global economy for the third quarter. However, potential risks include the upcoming US elections, geopolitical tensions, and rising trade protectionism. Investment firms recommend a 'WIN Strategy' approach to diversify portfolios for sustainable gains while being aware of risks during periods of market highs. Suggestions include focusing on tech and biotech industry funds, balanced US funds, selective income bond funds, and opportunities in innovative areas like AI-driven sectors and green technologies in countries such as India and Japan. Emphasis is on prudent risk awareness without being overly conservative to avoid missing out on long-term market growth opportunities.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
中美晶董事長徐秀蘭表示，旗下轉投資公司台特化、宏捷科、朋程今年營收將超過太陽能本業。太陽能業務轉型為銷售綠電，並積極拓展海外市場。中美晶電池除供應台灣外，還出口美國和擬積極進軍美國、日本市場。在台灣太陽能模組廠營運困難下，公司將積極拓展海外市場。
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
The Federal Reserve recently announced to maintain interest rates unchanged, with a possibility of one rate cut later this year. Shin Kong Investment Trust predicts the first rate cut may likely happen in September, leading to a surge in demand for their global bond fund. The fund primarily invests in BBB-rated investment grade bonds, focusing on mid-to-long-term duration, which could potentially yield capital gains as global interest rates decrease. The fund's portfolio includes mainly BBB-rated bonds (89.8%), followed by AA and A-rated bonds (17.36%), with investments mainly in the US across industries such as consumer, industrial, energy, technology, communication, and finance. Looking ahead, the fund manager believes that investing in global high-quality bond funds now will position investors well to capitalize on potential capital gains in the latter half of the year.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Weiyu Chiao / Taipei Report 4:10 PM, June 18, 2024. Stock markets in the United States, Japan, and Taiwan have all been hitting historic highs since the beginning of the year. Schroders Asset Management believes that historical experience shows that markets can still perform well after reaching new highs. To help young millennials invest in globally growing winners, Schroders Asset Management has teamed up with LINE Bank, allowing this young Gen Z generation to take their first step into investment and financial planning using the most familiar messaging software. With the expectation of continued market uptrend this year, young investors can leverage the 'zero lifetime handling fees' of LINE Bank by investing regularly in the Schroders Global Disruptive Future Stock Fund to position themselves early with high growth potential winners and accumulate their first pot of gold.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Cheng Yeh Medical has invested NT$1 billion to build Taiwan's first high-energy radiation sterilization plant in Tongluo, Miaoli, which officially launched on June 18, 2024. The new plant has already received sterilization orders from the agricultural and food industries, with clients from the electronics and aerospace industries starting testing services. Cheng Yeh Medical is optimistic about this year's operation, anticipating growth in revenue and profit compared to last year due to increasing orders and expanding services.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
The semiconductor industry is currently focusing on the development of advanced packaging, with research firm TechInsights estimating a 6% year-on-year increase in sales of wafer fab equipment for advanced packaging to reach $3.1 billion in 2024. Advanced packaging, driven by strong demand for AI chips, is continuously growing, and companies are ramping up their investments. Last year, the global packaging market was worth $94 billion, with advanced packaging accounting for 50%. In terms of specific advanced packaging wafer fab equipment, TechInsights predicts that sales of inspection equipment are likely to lead with a 7% growth rate, followed by wafer bonding, lithography, deposition, etching, and cleaning equipment, all expected to grow by 6% annually. Chemical mechanical planarization equipment's growth rate for this year is slightly lower at 5%. Meanwhile, the global semiconductor industry is experiencing robust growth, with the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reporting a 15.8% year-on-year increase in global semiconductor sales to $46.4 billion in April 2024, showing a steady monthly growth as well. SIA forecasts that global semiconductor sales will reach a record high of $611.2 billion this year, with a potential increase to $687.4 billion next year. Furthermore, the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization predicts a 16% year-on-year growth in global semiconductor sales this year and a 12.5% increase next year, indicating strong growth in the industry.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
On June 18, 2024, Senior Taiwanese Stock Analyst Lian Qianwen analyzed the economic events, noting that the US economic situation seems more apparent with various manufacturing indices showing mixed results. However, US stocks, particularly those related to AI, have been surging, which is beneficial for the Taiwan stock market. Leading AI companies like NVIDIA are performing well, and foreign institutions have raised TSMC's target price to over 1,000 NTD, citing positive developments in the AI sector and the demand for TSMC's manufacturing services.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Chairman Yeye Yanding of Gold Three Barley announced on June 18, 2024, that they will expand into the cocktail bar and sports bar sectors. With a capital of 2.19 billion yuan and 800 employees, the company aims to attract talent, enhance quality management, and diversify its operations. Following a successful year in 2023 with a revenue of 1.946 billion yuan and a net profit of 231 million yuan, Gold Three Wheat plans to expand its market presence and increase its market share through new business initiatives in the latter half of this year, focusing on areas such as cocktail bars and sports bars.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
According to ETNews on June 18, 2024, Samsung Electronics is planning to upgrade its semiconductor fabrication process at a Texas fab in Taylor, USA, from 4nm to 2nm in order to strengthen its competitiveness against rivals like TSMC and Intel, aiming to attract key customers such as NVIDIA, AMD, and Qualcomm. Samsung is expected to make a final decision on the change plan in the third quarter at the earliest. This factory, which Samsung invested $17 billion in 2021, was originally set to begin phased operations in July this year and start shipping 4nm chips to customers by the end of the year. However, if the process is changed, the start of operations would be delayed until 2026. In comparison, TSMC is constructing three fabs in the US with plans for 4nm, 2nm, and 3nm processes, which Samsung hopes to surpass by advancing its Texas fab process to attract crucial US customers.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Yao Shun/Taipei reported on June 18, 2024, at 4:10 PM, where V-Thai's Chairman Hsu Cheng-yi expressed optimism about the second half of the year, focusing on accelerating the expansion of both the 'V-Thai' and 'Shi Shi Xiang' brands. Additionally, Yang Qin International's General Manager Lin Li-ling emphasized their efforts to drive growth with the main brand 'Mai Weiden' expanding domestically, increase in overseas market authorizations for 'Fried Chicken Lion', and welcoming franchise partnerships for 'Shuanjin Guo'. V-Thai held its shareholder meeting on the 18th, revealing positive financial results and plans for further expansion and innovative branding. Yang Qin reported a significant year-on-year growth in revenue and profit, with Lin Li-ling highlighting overseas expansion plans and successful partnerships in various regions.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
HTC's important subsidiary, High Tech Computer Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., announced a cash reduction plan to reduce $100 million (about NT$3.2 billion), eliminating 100 million shares with a reduction rate of 41.88%, resulting in a revised capital of approximately $138 million (about NT$4.4 billion). HTC stated that this move is to align with the group's financial planning. HTC's May revenue was NT$191 million, up 10.4% month-on-month but down 46.94% annually; accumulated revenue for the first five months of the year was NT$959 million, down 41.38% annually. HTC recently launched the new HTC U24 pro smartphone emphasizing AI camera features to seize AI phone market opportunities, expected to contribute significantly to HTC's revenue in the second and third quarters. HTC will hold a shareholders' meeting on the 20th to pass a resolution for offsetting 2023 losses and will discuss operational outlook and VR layout at the meeting.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Taiwan Fixed is expanding its technology business revenue with a multi-faceted approach. The collaboration with Nvidia is extending from cloud gaming to GPU-level services for enterprise users. Taiwan Fixed is actively transitioning to develop technology businesses, aiming to incubate not just small but also large successful ventures. They are investing in startups like USPACE for shared parking spaces and expanding into markets like Japan and Thailand. Other investments include Fubon Energy and film production companies, indicating a focus on AI, cloud/IDC, and cybersecurity. The partnership with Nvidia has already produced GeForce NOW Alliance Taiwan Mobile cloud gaming services, with plans for future collaborations already in progress.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Taipei, June 18, 2024, 4:10 pm - Semiconductor foundry World Advanced (5347) announced a joint venture with NXP in Singapore to build a 12-inch wafer factory, with construction expected to begin in the second half of the year and production slated for 2027, with an investment of about NT$252.4 billion. Following the news of World Advanced's expansion into Singapore, the stock price continued to rise, supported by consistent institutional buying for several days, currently surpassing NT$120, higher than the valuation in foreign reports. The new Singapore facility will produce mixed-signal, power management, and analog products using 130 to 40-nanometer technology to meet the demands of various end markets such as automotive, industrial, consumer electronics, and mobile devices. Technical licensing and transfer are expected to come from TSMC, with World Advanced in charge of operations. Construction is expected to start in the second half of the year, with production in 2027, providing a certain share of capacity for both parties, aiming to reach a monthly capacity of 55,000 12-inch wafers by 2029, creating 1,500 job opportunities. If the cooperation goes smoothly, a second wafer factory may also be considered.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
American chemist Omar M. Yaghi was awarded the 6th Tang Prize for Sustainable Development on June 18, 2024, for his innovative materials widely used in carbon capture, hydrogen and methane storage, and water collection in arid regions. Yaghi's developments have led to applications in clean energy, clean air, and pure drinking water, with several international chemical, material, and automotive manufacturing groups launching related solutions and products. The market for MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks) and COFs (Covalent Organic Frameworks) new materials developed by Professor Yaghi reached around $350 million in 2022 and is estimated to exceed $1 billion by 2030. Yaghi's research in reticular chemistry has paved the way for addressing urgent energy, environmental, and water resource issues by synthesizing robust MOFs and COFs materials with organic and inorganic units, enabling the capture, concentration, and utilization of CO2, hydrogen, methane, and water.
Source: YAHOO