Core Insights - TrendForce's latest report indicates that the global top ten foundries' revenue is expected to exceed $41.7 billion in Q2 2025, marking a record high with a quarter-on-quarter growth of 14.6% due to pre-stockpiling effects from China's consumer subsidies and new product launches in smartphones, laptops/PCs, and servers [1] Group 1: Industry Performance - The third quarter's growth in the foundry sector is driven by seasonal demand for new products, with advanced process nodes receiving significant orders for upcoming main chip releases, leading to an overall increase in capacity utilization and revenue [1] - TSMC's revenue grew by 18.5% in Q2, reaching $30.24 billion, with a market share of 70.2%, solidifying its position as the market leader [1] - Samsung's revenue in Q2 was approximately $3.16 billion, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter increase of 9.2%, maintaining a market share of 7.3% [2] Group 2: Company-Specific Insights - SMIC's revenue in Q2 slightly decreased by 1.7% to around $2.21 billion, with a market share of 5.1% [2] - UMC's revenue grew by 8.2% in Q2, reaching $1.9 billion, with a market share of 4.4% [2] - GlobalFoundries reported a revenue increase of 6.5% in Q2, nearing $1.69 billion, holding a market share of 3.9% [2] Group 3: Tier 2 Foundries - Tier 2 foundries benefited from new IC orders, with HuaHong Group's revenue increasing by approximately 4.6% to $1.06 billion, maintaining a market share of about 2.5% [3] - Nexchip's revenue in Q2 was $360 million, reflecting a nearly 3% quarter-on-quarter increase, ranking ninth in the market [3]

Core Viewpoint - The global top ten foundries are expected to see revenue exceed $41.7 billion in Q2 2025, marking a record high with a quarter-on-quarter increase of 14.6% driven by pre-stockpiling effects from consumer subsidies in China and new product launches in smartphones, laptops/PCs, and servers [1] Industry Summary - The overall wafer foundry capacity utilization and shipment volume are projected to strengthen in Q2 2025, supported by seasonal demand for new products and high-priced wafers [1] - The industry is expected to maintain a continuous quarter-on-quarter revenue increase due to improved capacity utilization [1] Company Performance Summary - **TSMC**: Revenue reached $30.24 billion in Q2 2025, a quarter-on-quarter increase of 18.5%, with a market share of 70.2%, solidifying its position as the market leader [5] - **Samsung**: Revenue was approximately $3.16 billion, up 9.2% quarter-on-quarter, with a market share of 7.3% [6] - **SMIC**: Revenue slightly decreased by 1.7% to around $2.21 billion, with a market share of 5.1% [7] - **UMC**: Revenue grew by 8.2% to $1.90 billion, with a market share of 4.4% [8] - **GlobalFoundries**: Revenue increased by 6.5% to nearly $1.69 billion, holding a market share of 3.9% [9] - **Huahong Group**: Revenue rose by approximately 5% to $1.06 billion, maintaining a market share of 2.5% [10] - **Vanguard**: Revenue was nearly $0.38 billion, up 4.3% quarter-on-quarter, ranking seventh [11] - **Tower**: Revenue increased by 3.9% to $0.37 billion, maintaining an eighth-place market share [12] - **Nexchip**: Revenue reached $0.36 billion, a quarter-on-quarter increase of nearly 3% [13] - **PSMC**: Revenue grew by 5.4% to $0.35 billion, ranking tenth [14]

Core Insights - The overall wafer foundry capacity utilization and shipment volume are expected to strengthen due to pre-stockpiling effects from consumer subsidies in the Chinese market and the demand for new smartphones, laptops/PCs, and servers in the second half of 2025 [1] Group 1: Industry Performance - The revenue of the top ten global wafer foundries is projected to exceed $41.7 billion, marking a record high with a quarter-over-quarter increase of 14.6% [1] - TSMC's revenue increased by 18.5% quarter-over-quarter, reaching $30.24 billion, maintaining a market share of 70.2% [1] - Samsung's revenue for the second quarter was approximately $3.16 billion, with a quarter-over-quarter increase of 9.2%, securing a market share of 7.3% [1] - SMIC's revenue slightly decreased by 1.7% quarter-over-quarter to around $2.21 billion, with a marginal decline in market share to 5.1%, maintaining the third position [1]

Core Insights - TSMC is considering a price increase of 5% to 10% for all high-end process technologies in 2026 to offset U.S. tariffs, currency fluctuations, and supply chain cost pressures [1] - The higher pricing has been communicated to TSMC's foundry partners, affecting major customers like Nvidia and Apple who will face increased chip costs [1] - TSMC is also advancing its technology by planning to build a new 1.4nm advanced process plant, with an expected investment of 1.2 to 1.5 trillion New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 279.64 to 349.55 billion RMB) [3] Pricing Strategy - TSMC's potential price hike is a strategic response to external economic pressures, indicating a proactive approach to maintaining profitability [1] - The company has already informed its partners about the upcoming price adjustments, which will impact key clients in the semiconductor industry [1] Technological Advancements - TSMC is committed to advancing its manufacturing capabilities, with plans to start construction on a 1.4nm process plant in October 2023 [3] - The first two factories are expected to begin mass production by 2028, with future plans to progress to 1nm technology [3]

台积电正在考虑2026年将其所有高端工艺制程提高5%~10%的价格，以抵消美国关税、汇率波动和供应链价格压力。台积电已将更高的2026年报价传达给了代工厂合作伙伴，其中包括5纳米/4纳米、3纳米和2纳米等制程。这意味着台积电高端工艺的主要客户，如英伟达和苹果，现在需要为芯片支付更高的成本。针对是否考虑通过“涨价”方式来解决当前问题，台积电董事长魏哲家曾经幽默回应：“心里想的事情，嘴巴不能讲。”（Digitimes） ...

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the influential figures in the AI field as recognized by Time magazine in its 2025 list, emphasizing the increasing representation of Chinese individuals and their contributions to AI technology [2][5]. Group 1: Leaders - Ren Zhengfei, founder of Huawei, has driven long-term investments in AI, launching the Ascend series AI chips and the MindSpore deep learning framework, establishing a competitive edge in the AI ecosystem [8]. - Liang Wenfeng, CEO of DeepSeek, has led the company to prominence in AI technology, releasing the R1 model that competes with OpenAI's latest offerings, showcasing China's capabilities in AI with minimal computational resources [11]. - Huang Renxun, co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, transformed the company into a leading AI computing firm, with its CUDA platform and high-performance GPUs being essential for advancements in deep learning [14]. - Wei Zhejia, chairman and CEO of TSMC, has positioned the company as a key player in AI chip manufacturing, ensuring the production of powerful AI processors through strategic decisions [17]. Group 2: Innovators - Peng Jun, CEO of Pony.ai, has been pivotal in the commercialization of autonomous driving, achieving large-scale operations of Robotaxi services in major Chinese cities by 2025 [25]. - Edwin Chen, founder and CEO of Surge AI, has built a successful data labeling company, generating over $1 billion in revenue by 2024, with a valuation exceeding $25 billion during fundraising [28]. Group 3: Shapers - Li Feifei, Stanford professor and CEO of World Labs, is a key figure in human-centered AI research, having created the ImageNet project, which revolutionized computer vision [31][32]. - Xue Lan, Tsinghua University professor, has contributed significantly to AI governance and public policy, influencing the development of ethical standards and regulations in AI [35][36]. Group 4: Other AI Figures - Elon Musk, founder of xAI, has been influential in developing autonomous driving technologies and brain-machine interfaces [40]. - Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has led the company in releasing groundbreaking AI products, significantly advancing generative AI technology [42]. - Andy Jassy, president and CEO of Amazon, has laid the groundwork for AI advancements through AWS and is actively promoting generative AI innovations [51].

Core Viewpoint - Samsung is resuming investments in its Taylor factory in the U.S. to enhance its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, particularly focusing on 2nm technology, driven by demand from American clients and the "Made in America" initiative [2][3]. Investment and Production Plans - Samsung plans to deploy personnel at the Taylor factory starting in September, with new equipment being integrated for 2nm production [2][3]. - The company aims to establish a production line for 2nm chips, with an expected monthly capacity of 16,000 to 17,000 12-inch wafers by the end of next year [4][5]. - A significant contract with Tesla worth approximately 22.8 trillion KRW (around $196 billion) has been signed, which will involve producing AI chips for Tesla over an eight-year period [3]. Competitive Landscape - The competition for the next-generation 2nm semiconductor market is intensifying, with TSMC and Samsung preparing for mass production [7]. - TSMC has begun receiving orders for its 2nm process and is expected to start production in the second half of this year, while Samsung plans to begin production in late 2025 [7][8]. - TSMC currently holds a dominant market share of 67.6%, while Samsung's market share is at 7.7%, indicating a significant gap that Samsung aims to close [8][9]. Technological Advancements - Samsung is focusing on improving the yield and stability of its 2nm process, building on its experience with the 3nm process, which faced initial yield challenges [8][9]. - The anticipated demand for 2nm technology is expected to surpass that of the previous 3nm generation, driven by applications in smartphones and high-performance computing [8]. Strategic Moves - To attract top technology clients, Samsung has appointed former TSMC executive Margaret Han to lead its U.S. foundry business [9]. - The company is also enhancing its sales efforts towards major tech firms like Nvidia, Apple, Qualcomm, and AMD to expand its business at the Taylor factory [5][9].

Market Overview - US stock markets collectively declined last Friday, with technology stocks facing significant sell-offs, but overall performance in August remained positive, with the Nasdaq recording five consecutive monthly gains and the S&P 500 four consecutive monthly gains [1][2] - The S&P 500 index fell by 0.64% to 6460.26 points, the Dow Jones index decreased by 0.20% to 45544.88 points, and the Nasdaq index dropped by 1.15% to 21455.55 points as of last Friday's close [1] - In the week, the Dow Jones and Nasdaq indices both saw a decline of 0.19%, while the S&P 500 index fell by 0.10% [1] Economic Indicators - The US non-farm payroll data for August is set to be released this Friday, which will serve as a crucial indicator of economic health and test investor expectations regarding potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [5] - The Federal Reserve will also release its Beige Book on Wednesday, which includes various economic condition surveys [5] Legal and Regulatory Developments - A US appeals court ruled that most of the global tariff policies implemented by former President Trump were illegal, marking a significant blow to one of his administration's hallmark policies [4][16] - The court's decision allows the tariffs to remain in effect until mid-October, providing time for further appeals to the Supreme Court [4][16] Seasonal Trends - September is historically the worst-performing month for the S&P 500, with an average decline of 0.8% over the past 35 years, and this trend is expected to continue [6][18] - The month is characterized by high volatility, particularly in the first year of a presidential term, where the probability of decline increases to 58% [18] Company Performance - Notable declines were observed in major tech stocks last Friday, including Nvidia down 3.32%, Microsoft down 0.58%, and Tesla down 3.50% [9][12] - In contrast, Alibaba saw a significant increase of 12.90% [12] Global Market Performance - European stock indices experienced slight declines, with the UK FTSE 100 down 0.32%, France's CAC 40 down 0.76%, and Germany's DAX down 0.57% [10] - Asian markets showed mixed results, with the Hang Seng Index up 0.32% and the Nikkei 225 down 0.26% [10]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The analysis focuses on the global equity market, particularly the performance and positioning of long-only funds across various sectors, including Semiconductors, Industrials, and Health Care [1][2][24]. Core Insights - **Equity Flow Trends**: Long-only funds globally purchased $27.2 billion in the Semiconductors sector, driven by positive sentiment towards AI, while they sold $42.3 billion in Industrials and $27.1 billion in Health Care [1]. - **Regional Activity**: Funds bought $21.0 billion in Asia Pacific excluding Japan, while selling $56.5 billion in the US [1]. - **Top Stock Movements**: In the US, NVIDIA saw a significant inflow of $16.9 billion, while Apple experienced an outflow of $11.2 billion. In Emerging Markets, TSMC gained $5.9 billion, and MercadoLibre lost $1.4 billion [2]. Crowded Stocks Analysis - **Crowded Positives**: Stocks with high ownership and positive momentum include Meta, Broadcom, Netflix, Visa, Mastercard, and Wells Fargo [3][4]. - **Crowded Negatives**: Stocks with high ownership but negative momentum include Meituan, LVMH, and Pilbara Minerals [3]. - **Under-owned Negatives**: Stocks like BHP, Targa Resources, and Lockheed Martin are under-owned but have potential upside [4]. Fund Ownership and Active Exposure - **Fund Ownership Metrics**: The report indicates that 73% of relevant funds own Stock B, highlighting the importance of fund ownership in investment decisions [28]. - **Active Exposure Analysis**: The analysis includes over 5,647 active long-only funds managing more than $29 trillion in equities, with a focus on their relative weight against benchmarks [18][19]. Performance Metrics - **Back-tested Performance**: Crowded Positive stocks have outperformed the global combined universe by 4.4% since January 2015, while Under-owned Negatives have consistently underperformed [73]. - **Equity Flow Calculation**: The report emphasizes the importance of equity flow in understanding fund behavior, with cumulative long-only equity flow for China stocks reaching $193.0 billion [27]. Methodology and Limitations - **Methodology**: The analysis combines fund ownership, active exposure, and Triple Momentum to identify investment opportunities and risks [36][63]. - **Limitations**: The report notes that the analysis does not include funds that do not declare holdings regularly or those with less than $500 million in AUM, which may skew results [72]. Conclusion - The report provides a comprehensive overview of fund flows, stock positioning, and performance metrics, highlighting significant trends in the equity market and identifying potential investment opportunities and risks across various sectors and regions.

Market Performance - The main board led the gains with notable increases in stocks such as Guoan Co. (+10.07%), Tongfu Microelectronics (+10.01%), and Jianghai Co. (+10.01%) [1] - The ChiNext board saw significant growth with Tongda Sea (+20.01%) and Jiebang Technology (+20.00%) leading the way [1] - The Sci-Tech Innovation board was led by Aerospace Hongtu (+17.94%) and Kaipu Cloud (+16.52%) [1] - Active sub-industries included SW Printed Circuit Boards (+3.54%) and SW Integrated Circuit Packaging and Testing (+1.73%) [1] Domestic News - A research team from Peking University and Hong Kong City University proposed a concept for a "Universal Photonic Fusion Wireless Transceiver Engine," successfully developing a chip for high-speed wireless communication with a coverage range exceeding 110 GHz [1] - TSMC is set to begin construction of a new 1.4nm advanced process wafer plant in Taiwan, with an estimated total investment of NT$1.2 trillion to NT$1.5 trillion (approximately $39.2 billion to $49 billion) [1] - GalaxyCore launched a high-performance 5MP image sensor GC5605 designed for AI PC applications, enhancing video quality for scenarios like video conferencing [1] - Tailin Micro announced plans to acquire 100% of Shanghai Panqi Microelectronics to expand its low-power IoT wireless connection platform [1] Company Announcements - Howey Group reported a total revenue of 13.956 billion yuan for H1 2025, a year-on-year increase of 15.42%, with a net profit of 2.028 billion yuan, up 48.34% [2] - Dingjie Smart reported total revenue of 1.045 billion yuan for H1 2025, a 4.08% increase, with a net profit of 45 million yuan, up 6.09% [2] - Lingyi Technology reported total revenue of 23.625 billion yuan for H1 2025, a 23.35% increase, with a net profit of 930 million yuan, up 35.94% [2] - Kaisheng Technology reported total revenue of 2.765 billion yuan for H1 2025, a 24.7% increase, with a net profit of 52 million yuan, up 23.7% [2] Overseas News - Dell Technologies reported $5.6 billion in AI server orders for Q2, a significant drop from $12.1 billion in the previous quarter, with AI server shipments totaling $8.2 billion [2] - The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the revocation of export exemptions for Intel Semiconductor (Dalian), Samsung China Semiconductor, and SK Hynix Semiconductor (China) [2] - Research from Stanford University indicated a 13% decline in employment rates for workers aged 22 to 25 in AI-affected occupations since 2022, with software development and customer service being the most impacted [2] - Intel announced modifications to its funding agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, allowing it to access approximately $5.7 billion in cash earlier than planned [2]