Core Viewpoint - TSMC has received an "annual license" from the U.S. government, allowing it to export chip manufacturing equipment to its factory in China by 2026, joining Samsung and SK Hynix in this temporary relief [1][3]. Group 1: License and Export Regulations - The U.S. government previously revoked the indefinite licenses of TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix, requiring them to apply for individual approvals for exporting chip manufacturing equipment to their factories in China [3][4]. - The newly granted annual export license allows TSMC to supply its Nanjing factory without needing individual supplier licenses, ensuring uninterrupted operations and product delivery [1][3]. Group 2: Industry Context and Reactions - The annual approval system introduced by the U.S. government is seen as a response to concerns over technology leaks and equipment transfers to Chinese companies [3][4]. - The Chinese government has expressed strong opposition to the U.S. export controls, emphasizing the globalized nature of the semiconductor industry and the potential negative impact on the stability of the global supply chain [4].

Core Viewpoint - TSMC has received an "annual license" from the U.S. government, allowing it to export chip manufacturing equipment to its factory in China by 2026, joining Samsung and SK Hynix in this temporary relief from previous restrictions [1][3]. Group 1: License and Export Regulations - The U.S. government previously revoked the indefinite licenses for TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix, requiring them to apply for individual approvals for exporting chip manufacturing equipment to their factories in China [3][4]. - The newly granted annual export license allows TSMC to supply its Nanjing factory without needing individual supplier licenses, ensuring uninterrupted operations and product delivery [1][3]. Group 2: Background and Implications - The Trump administration viewed the "Verified End User" (VEU) system as a loophole, expressing concerns over potential technology leaks or equipment transfers to Chinese companies [4]. - The annual approval mechanism proposed by the U.S. government could lead to significant administrative burdens, requiring companies to process an additional 1,000 licenses annually, complicating their operations [4]. - China has expressed strong opposition to the U.S. export controls, emphasizing the globalized nature of the semiconductor industry and the potential negative impact on the stability of the global supply chain [4][5].

Core Viewpoint - TSMC has received an annual license from the U.S. government to import American chip manufacturing equipment to its factory in Nanjing, China, ensuring uninterrupted operations and product delivery [1] Group 1: TSMC's U.S. Operations - TSMC's new factory in Silicon Valley is projected to incur a loss of nearly 14.3 billion New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) in 2024, making it the most costly overseas facility [2] - The cumulative losses for TSMC's U.S. factory from 2021 to 2023 reached approximately 4 billion NTD, with losses of 4.81 billion NTD in 2021, 9.43 billion NTD in 2022, and 10.924 billion NTD in 2023 [2] - TSMC's chairman stated that the construction of the U.S. factory is entirely based on customer demand, and once completed, it will contribute about 30% of TSMC's 2nm and more advanced production capacity [2] Group 2: TSMC's Nanjing Operations - TSMC's subsidiary in Nanjing reported a profit of 25.954 billion NTD last year, showing a consistent increase from 12.283 billion NTD in 2021, 20.486 billion NTD in 2022, and 21.755 billion NTD in 2023 [2] - Over four years, the total profit from the Nanjing factory exceeded 80 billion NTD, indicating strong performance compared to its U.S. counterparts [2]

Core Insights - The article discusses the growing interest in semiconductor industry training programs in Arizona, highlighting the collaboration between educational institutions and major companies like Intel and TSMC to develop a skilled workforce for the booming semiconductor sector [2][3]. Group 1: Training Programs and Workforce Development - A 40-hour fast-track training program developed in collaboration with Intel aims to train semiconductor technicians, with over 1,200 students completing it since 2022, of which more than 70% are non-traditional learners aged 25 and above [3]. - Arizona has received over $200 billion in investments from major chip manufacturers and suppliers since 2020, with the expansion expected to create at least 25,000 new jobs [2]. - Arizona State University, which has the largest engineering school in the U.S., produces over 7,000 engineering graduates annually, aligning its training programs with the needs of chip suppliers [3]. Group 2: Industry Collaboration and Initiatives - The "Future 48 Workforce Accelerator Program" aims to train workers for advanced manufacturing positions in semiconductors, batteries, and aerospace, providing practical experience in cleanroom environments [4]. - Major companies like ASML and Applied Materials are also investing in training initiatives, with ASML opening a technical academy to train over 1,000 engineers annually and Applied Materials launching a $270 million research center [4]. - TSMC plans to start a semiconductor technician apprenticeship program in 2024 to train and hire more technicians with expertise in various technical fields [4]. Group 3: Immigration and Talent Acquisition Concerns - Concerns are rising among chip suppliers and industry executives regarding tightening U.S. immigration policies, particularly the high costs associated with H-1B visa applications and restrictions on Optional Practical Training (OPT) for international students [5]. - A federal judge upheld the government's authority to impose additional fees on H-1B visa applications, which may complicate the recruitment of skilled international talent [5]. - Arizona State University emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong relationships with international students to enhance the workforce and ensure the U.S. remains competitive in engineering fields [5]. Group 4: Community and Government Support - The mayor of Phoenix highlights the city's welcoming attitude towards immigrants and international companies as a key factor in attracting semiconductor manufacturers [6]. - The local government is actively assisting new companies with navigating complex immigration paperwork to attract the necessary talent [6]. - The fast-track training program serves as a stepping stone for participants, potentially leading to job opportunities in semiconductor support services [6].

Market Performance - The US stock market continued its post-Christmas pullback, with all three major indices closing lower, marking a subdued end to 2025. The S&P 500 index fell by 0.74% to 6845.5 points, the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.76% to 23241.99 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.63% to 48063.29 points [1]. - For the year, the S&P 500 recorded an annual increase of 16.39%, while the Nasdaq managed a 20.36% rise, achieving over 20% growth for three consecutive years. The Dow Jones also rose by 12.97%, marking a similar performance for the third year in a row [3]. Individual Stock Performance - Among the top performers in the S&P 500, four storage giants—SanDisk, Western Digital, Micron Technology, and Seagate Technology—led the annual gains. Semiconductor stocks like Lam Research, AI application leader Palantir, and Comfort Systems, which provides HVAC solutions for data centers, also featured prominently [3]. - In the tech sector, only Google and Nvidia among the "Big Seven" tech companies outperformed the benchmark index in 2025 [8]. Commodity and Sector Movements - US silver futures experienced a significant drop of 9% due to a second margin increase by the CME Group within a week, negatively impacting the mining sector. Companies like Endeavour Silver and Silvercorp Metals saw declines of over 4% and 2.8%, respectively [11]. Chinese Stocks - The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index closed down 1.13% but recorded an annual increase of 11.33%. Notable Chinese stocks included Alibaba, which rose over 75%, and Netease, which increased by 58.28% [12]. Corporate News - Warren Buffett officially retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on December 31, 2025, after a long tenure, although he will remain as chairman of the board [13]. - Tesla achieved a milestone with a driver completing a coast-to-coast journey using full self-driving technology, marking a significant advancement in autonomous vehicle capabilities [15]. - Nvidia and AMD are expected to enter a "year-long price increase cycle" for GPUs, driven by rising memory costs, with flagship models potentially reaching prices as high as $5000 [16]. - Trump Media & Technology Group announced plans to issue a new cryptocurrency to shareholders, despite a significant annual decline in stock value [17]. - Brookfield Asset Management is launching a cloud computing business to challenge tech giants like Amazon, aiming to reduce AI development costs [18]. - Uber is in talks to acquire the parking app SpotHero, which could create synergies between ride-hailing and parking services [19].

台积电在发给路透社的一份声明中表示，这一许可"确保了晶圆厂运营和产品交付不受中断"。 "美国商务部已向台积电南京工厂发放年度出口许可证，允许受美国出口管制的设备供应给台积电南京工厂，而无需逐一申请供应商许可证，"台积电表 示，"此项许可证在现行经验证最终用户授权于2025年12月31日到期前发放，确保了晶圆厂的运营和产品交付不受中断。" 此前，韩国三星电子、SK海力士同样获得了美国批准，可以向中国内地工厂供应美国芯片制造设备。这些亚洲公司此前因豁免权而受益，得以免受美国对 华芯片相关出口的全面限制。但这一被称为"经验证最终用户"的特权已于2025年12月31日到期。这意味着从2026年起，这些公司向其中国内地芯片制造工厂 供应美国设备将需要获得美国的出口许可证。(作者/箫雨) 台积电 北京时间1月1日，据路透社报道，台积电周四表示，美国政府已向其授予年度许可证，允许其中国内地南京工厂进口美国芯片制造设备。 ...

Group 1: Stock Performance - TSMC's stock increased by 1.44% to $303.89, outperforming the S&P 500, which fell by 0.74% [1] - Prior to the latest trading session, TSMC shares had gained 2.56%, surpassing the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 0.14% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.79% [1] Group 2: Upcoming Earnings - TSMC is expected to report an EPS of $2.72, reflecting a growth of 21.43% compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is forecasted to be $32.6 billion, indicating a growth of 21.26% year-over-year [2] Group 3: Full Year Estimates - Analysts predict earnings of $10.17 per share and revenue of $121 billion for the full year, representing increases of 44.46% and 34.32% respectively from the previous year [3] - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for TSMC may indicate changing near-term business trends, with positive revisions seen as a favorable sign for the business outlook [3] Group 4: Valuation Metrics - TSMC has a Forward P/E ratio of 29.47, which is in line with the industry average [6] - The PEG ratio for TSMC is currently 1.03, matching the average PEG ratio for the Semiconductor - Circuit Foundry industry [6] Group 5: Industry Ranking - The Semiconductor - Circuit Foundry industry is ranked 108 in the Zacks Industry Rank, placing it in the top 44% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that industries in the top 50% outperform those in the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Market Overview - The Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index (HXC) fell by 1.13% on January 1, with notable declines in major Chinese stocks such as Alibaba, Pinduoduo, and NIO, which dropped by 0.52%, 0.39%, and 7.27% respectively [1][11] - The S&P 500 index recorded its fourth consecutive day of decline, despite achieving a yearly increase of 16.39%, marking its third consecutive year of double-digit annual growth [2][12] Stock Performance - Among the rising stocks, TSMC increased by 1.45%, while other notable gainers included ASE Technology (+0.44%) and Huazhu Hotels (+0.15%) [1][11] - Conversely, significant declines were observed in stocks such as Xpeng Motors (-4.65%), Li Auto (-1.97%), and Beike (-0.57%) [1][11] Index Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 303.77 points, or 0.63%, closing at 48,063.29 points, while the Nasdaq Composite fell by 177.09 points, or 0.76%, to 23,241.99 points [12] - The Nasdaq Composite has benefited from the AI boom, with a cumulative increase of 20.36% in 2025 [3][13] - The Dow Jones has seen a 12.97% increase in 2025, lagging behind due to a lower weight of technology stocks [4][14]

Core Insights - The U.S. government has issued an annual license to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to import chip manufacturing equipment to its facilities located in Nanjing, China [1] Company Summary - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has received approval from the U.S. government for an annual license [1] - The license allows TSMC to bring in essential chip manufacturing equipment to enhance its operations in Nanjing, China [1]

Entering 2026, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited ( TSM ) continues to have a competitive advantage due to the growing demand for AI technologies. As technologies in the 7nm node or better account for aboutHi, I'm Yiannis. Spotting winners before they break out is what I do best.Experience: Previously worked at Deloitte and KPMG in external/internal auditing and consulting. Education: Chartered Certified Accountant, Fellow Member of ACCA Global, with BSc and MSc degrees from U.K. business sc ...