Core Viewpoint - Inverse Lithography Technology (ILT) is emerging as a revolutionary method in chip design, potentially enhancing performance levels significantly, particularly through its application by TSMC and NVIDIA [2][8]. Group 1: Technology Overview - ILT is not a new technology but is being utilized in innovative ways by leading chip manufacturers [2][6]. - The technology addresses issues arising from the diffraction and distortion of extreme ultraviolet light as it passes through complex optical systems in advanced chip manufacturing [4]. - Traditional methods of mask design are iterative and additive, while ILT employs artificial intelligence to generate optical mask images pixel by pixel, resulting in unique and complex designs [5][11]. Group 2: Industry Implications - TSMC's upcoming N2 process (2nm process) will incorporate ILT technology, although it will initially be used for only a few mask layers [8]. - The application of ILT in future GPU products by companies like NVIDIA is expected to yield significant advancements, akin to generational upgrades in chip nodes without the complications of shorter wavelengths [8]. - The resulting lithography masks from ILT are described as visually striking and complex, paralleling the intricate workings of advanced AI models [11].

Core Insights - The article discusses the significant shift towards advanced process nodes (5/4/3/2nm) in smartphone SoC shipments, predicting that by 2025, these advanced nodes will account for 50% of total smartphone SoC shipments, up from 43% in 2024 [4][5]. Advanced Process Node Transition - The transition to advanced process nodes is accelerating, enhancing performance and energy efficiency across various smartphone price segments, leading to improved GenAI capabilities, gaming performance, and thermal management [5]. - The revenue from advanced process chips is expected to exceed 80% of total smartphone SoC revenue by 2025, driven by increased semiconductor content and average selling price (ASP) growth [5][8]. Key Players and Market Dynamics - Qualcomm is projected to lead the advanced process transition, capturing nearly 40% of the market share in 2025 with a 28% year-over-year growth, surpassing Apple [6][8]. - MediaTek is also expected to see a 69% increase in advanced process shipments in 2025, benefiting from its mid-range product migration to 5/4nm [6][8]. Manufacturing Landscape - TSMC is anticipated to remain the leading foundry for advanced process smartphone SoCs, with a projected 27% year-over-year growth in shipments by 2025, holding over 75% of the advanced process market share [9]. - The introduction of 2nm process technology is expected in 2026, with major players like MediaTek, Qualcomm, Apple, and Samsung launching flagship SoCs based on this technology [8][10]. Market Outlook - By 2026, the share of advanced process nodes in total smartphone SoC shipments is expected to rise to 60%, driven by the migration of mid-range models and the continued ramp-up of 3nm production [10].

Group 1 - Chery Automobile issued an apology following an incident during a test at Tianmen Mountain, where a vehicle crashed into a guardrail due to a safety failure, highlighting insufficient risk assessment and detail management in the testing process [2][3] - The incident has sparked widespread discussion online, with Chery committing to repair the damage and take responsibility for the aftermath [3] Group 2 - The extradition of She Zhijiang, a leader of a cross-border gambling and fraud group, back to China was completed, with the group operating 239 illegal gambling websites and involving over 2.7 trillion yuan [6] - Luckin Coffee's CEO announced preparations for a relisting on the US stock market, indicating a strategic move to regain market presence [7] Group 3 - Microsoft plans to leverage its access to OpenAI's custom chip technology to enhance its internal chip development efforts, with a long-term agreement allowing access to OpenAI's models until 2032 [11] - Xiaomi has recruited former DeepSeek researcher Luo Fuli to lead its AI model team, aiming to develop advanced AI technologies [12] Group 4 - A significant Bitcoin money laundering case in the UK resulted in a sentence of 11 years and 8 months for a Chinese woman involved in laundering approximately 61,000 Bitcoins, valued at nearly 50 billion pounds [15] - ByteDance terminated a researcher from its large model team due to multiple leaks, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality in tech development [16] Group 5 - The "Baibaojun" high-return investment scheme by ZhongAn Insurance faced backlash after failing to deliver promised returns, with the company stating it had divested from the scheme and is now a victim of the situation [29] - New regulations for coronary heart disease insurance reimbursement in China are set to significantly reduce patient financial burdens, expected to save over 12 billion yuan annually [31]

Group 1 - The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index experienced a decline of 1.2% in early trading [1] - Among popular Chinese concept stocks, Baidu fell by 2.6%, NIO by 2.2%, and Xpeng and New Oriental by up to 2% [1] - Alibaba, NetEase, and Li Auto saw declines of up to 0.88% [1] Group 2 - Pinduoduo, JD.com, Yum China, TSMC, WeRide, and Fangdd recorded increases of up to 1.52% [1] - In the ETF sector, CQQQ decreased by 0.98% and KWEB by 0.82% [1]

Core Insights - TSMC's 3nm advanced process capacity is facing significant constraints due to surging demand from AI chip giants like NVIDIA, leading to a supply-demand gap that is expected to drive TSMC's overall gross margin above 60% by 2026 [2][4]. Group 1: Capacity Constraints - TSMC's 3nm monthly capacity is projected to reach only 140,000 to 145,000 wafers by the end of 2026, which will not meet the total orders [2]. - Major clients including NVIDIA, Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft have fully booked the 3nm capacity, covering critical areas such as AI training chips and flagship smartphone processors [4]. Group 2: Profitability and Pricing - The scarcity of capacity is translating into profitability for TSMC, with some clients willing to pay 50% to 100% above normal prices for expedited orders [4]. - If this trend continues, combined with planned price increases in 2026, TSMC's gross margin is expected to remain above 60%, with growth momentum likely to exceed market expectations [4]. Group 3: Capacity Expansion Strategies - To alleviate capacity pressure, TSMC is implementing flexible strategies, such as converting part of the 4nm production line at the Tainan Fab18 to 3nm, which will increase monthly output by approximately 25,000 wafers [5]. - TSMC is also collaborating across factories to utilize 6nm/7nm lines at Fab14 for 3nm backend processes, potentially releasing an additional 5,000 to 10,000 wafers per month in the second half of 2026 [5]. - The 3nm capacity at TSMC's Arizona facility is not expected to contribute until early 2027 [5].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a lawsuit against TSMC by a former employee, Bernado, who claims she was retaliated against for assisting in a collective lawsuit against the company, highlighting issues of workplace bullying and discrimination within TSMC's operations in the U.S. [1][3] Group 1: Lawsuit Details - Bernado alleges that TSMC demoted her from her HR position and ultimately terminated her employment for providing information to lawyers for a collective lawsuit, which she claims violated confidentiality rules [3] - She describes a hostile work environment, including bullying and a lack of support from management, with her complaints being ignored [3] - The collective lawsuit against TSMC has grown from 13 to 17 plaintiffs since its inception, with over 160 pages of allegations including discrimination, workplace retaliation, and safety issues [3] Group 2: Company Response - TSMC has stated that it will not publicly comment on the lawsuit but expressed pride in its Arizona team, asserting compliance with labor laws and commitment to a safe and inclusive workplace [3]

Group 1: Ark Invest's Trades - Ark Invest executed significant trades involving Tesla, Pony AI, TSMC, and Baidu, indicating a strategic focus on the tech and AI sectors [1] - The sale of 5,426 shares of Tesla across ARK Innovation ETF and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF amounted to approximately $2.4 million at a closing price of $445.23 [2] - Ark's ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF purchased 173,798 shares of Pony AI for about $2.51 million, reflecting confidence in the company's autonomous driving advancements [3][4] Group 2: Company Developments - Tesla's CEO emphasized a shift towards self-reliance in semiconductor production, moving away from reliance on external suppliers like TSMC to enhance AI capabilities [3] - Pony AI celebrated the production of its 300th ARCFOX Alpha T5 robotaxi, showcasing its commitment to expanding commercial services [4] - Pony AI's Hong Kong IPO was priced at HK$139 per share, raising approximately HK$6.7 billion to advance its Level 4 autonomous driving technology and R&D efforts [5] Group 3: TSMC and Baidu Insights - ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF acquired 16,598 shares of TSMC, valued at an estimated $4.9 million, as TSMC reported strong financial results driven by demand for advanced chips [6] - Ark's ARKK and ARKQ ETFs bought a total of 94,095 shares of Baidu for approximately $12.4 million, highlighting Baidu's ongoing significance in the AI sector despite regulatory challenges [7]

Market Overview - The A-share index showed mixed performance with the Shanghai Composite Index rising by 1.08% and the Shenzhen Component Index increasing by 0.19%, while the North China 50 index fell by 3.79% during the week of November 3-7, 2025 [7][5] - The average daily trading volume in the market was 2.01 trillion yuan, down from 2.32 trillion yuan the previous week, indicating a contraction in trading activity [5][7] Consumer Sector - The consumer sector's Q3 performance revealed a divergence among sub-sectors, with the mother and baby segment showing a significant year-on-year net profit increase of 69.48%, while the supermarket and department store segments faced severe declines in net profit, with decreases of 31.23% and 229.10% respectively [5][19] - The overall Q3 revenue growth for major consumer segments was as follows: home appliances +1.66%, textiles -1.31%, food and beverages -6.57%, and consumer services +3.51% [18][19] Health Sector - The new essential drug directory is expected to be implemented, which may benefit traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products. The current essential drug directory includes 417 chemical drugs and 268 TCMs, with TCM accounting for 39.1% [30][31] - The CXO (Contract Research Organization) segment within the biopharmaceutical industry showed notable revenue growth, while other segments faced challenges due to policy changes and market conditions [27][29] Hard Technology - The global demand for AI continues to drive high demand in the wafer foundry sector, with TSMC reporting a Q3 revenue growth where 3nm and 5nm process revenues accounted for 37% and 14% of total revenue respectively [5][10] - Domestic wafer foundries also experienced significant revenue growth in Q3, reflecting strong domestic demand driven by local IC design companies and the return of some orders to domestic manufacturers [5][11] High-end Manufacturing - The high-end manufacturing sector showed a steady recovery in Q3, with traditional equipment manufacturing experiencing a rebound in demand, particularly in the metal cutting machine tool industry [5][12] - Companies like XPeng Motors are diversifying into humanoid robotics, indicating a trend towards intelligent manufacturing and collaborative innovation within the industry [5][14]

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley's latest research indicates that despite ongoing concerns about an AI bubble, the semiconductor upcycle driven by AI is far from peaking, with its duration expected to extend beyond typical cycles until 2027, providing strong support for Asian tech stocks in 2026 [1] Semiconductor Revenue Growth - The firm has raised its forecasts, predicting global semiconductor revenue to grow by 18% and 11% in 2026 and 2027, respectively, driven by the early adoption curve of generative AI, strong capital expenditure from leading cloud service providers (CSPs), and conservative capacity expansion strategies in key supply chain segments [3] Asian Tech Market Dynamics - In 2026, the Asian tech market is expected to exhibit a "delicate" balance, where investor concerns about the cycle peaking coexist with continuous upward adjustments in earnings per share (EPS) driven by AI infrastructure development and price increases in certain components [4][9] Market Sentiment and Earnings Revisions - Morgan Stanley notes that while classic indicators suggest the current upcycle is nearing its late stage, this does not alter the upward trend. In the first half of 2026, Asian tech stocks are anticipated to have room for growth due to strong earnings from AI-leading companies [9] Supply Shortages and Price Increases - The strong demand for AI is "crowding out" supply across the tech industry, leading to shortages in various sectors, including advanced packaging, wafer foundries, and high bandwidth memory (HBM), with suppliers increasing capacity at a slower pace than normal, resulting in price hikes that will further boost corporate earnings revisions [11] Unique Characteristics of the Current Cycle - The current cycle is characterized by a "K-shaped recovery," with a divergence between AI and non-AI demand since mid-2023, where AI-related demand remains robust while other tech sectors face adjustments [12] - Generative AI adoption is following a steep S-curve, similar to the early stages of smartphones and public cloud, with expectations of 50%-60% year-on-year growth in 2026, indicating significant growth potential [13] - Leading CSPs are expected to maintain strong capital expenditure, with the top six CSPs projected to increase capital spending by 32% in 2026 after a 67% growth in 2025, demonstrating their financial capacity to support ongoing AI infrastructure expansion [16] Supply Chain Constraints - The current cycle has seen conservative growth in semiconductor capital expenditure, with supply concentrated among a few manufacturers. TSMC's capital expenditure is expected to grow by only 16% in 2026, while the DRAM sector's capital expenditure is projected to increase by 11%, indicating that supply shortages in critical areas will persist until 2026 [20] Investment Strategy Recommendation - Based on these insights, Morgan Stanley recommends a "barbell" investment strategy for 2026, allocating one end to leading AI enablers and the other to companies benefiting from price increases and margin expansion, with TSMC identified as a preferred stock [22]

Core Viewpoint - TSMC has become the only trillion-dollar company in Asia, leading to a significant increase in its weight in various indices, but fund managers face constraints due to holding rules, creating a unique investment dilemma [1][3]. Group 1: TSMC's Market Position - TSMC's stock price in Taipei has surged by 36% this year, raising its weight in the Taiwan Weighted Index to nearly 43% and reaching close to 12% in both the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and MSCI Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) Index [3]. - The rise in TSMC's weight directly impacts funds over $100 billion that benchmark against MSCI indices, as regulations limit single stock holdings to 10% of net assets, leading to significant performance lag risks [3][4]. Group 2: Fund Managers' Challenges - Fund managers are forced to underweight TSMC not due to investment beliefs but due to structural limitations, creating a real risk of underperformance [3][4]. - Some fund managers are turning to investments in companies like Hon Hai Precision and ASE Technology, which are seen as part of TSMC's value chain, or using derivatives to hedge, but these strategies have clear limitations [3][4]. Group 3: Difficulty in Finding Alternatives - Finding a substitute that can replicate TSMC's market position, growth trajectory, and stability is extremely challenging [5]. - While alternative stocks may benefit from similar AI-driven factors, they struggle to match TSMC's strong pricing power, earnings quality, or business resilience [4].