TSMC's second-quarter profit soars nearly 61% as AI chip demand stays strong

Core Insights - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported a nearly 61% year-on-year increase in second-quarter profit, driven by strong demand for artificial intelligence chips [1] - TSMC's net revenue for the June quarter rose 38.65% year-on-year to NT$933.80 billion ($31.7 billion), surpassing estimates [2][5] - The company is benefiting from the growing trend towards AI, producing advanced processors for major clients like Nvidia and Apple [2] Financial Performance - Second-quarter net profit reached a record high of NT$398.27 billion, exceeding expectations of NT$377.86 billion [5] - TSMC's revenue of NT$933.80 billion also beat the forecast of NT$931.24 billion [5] Market Dynamics - TSMC faces potential challenges from U.S. trade policies, including the threat of steep tariffs on Taiwan announced by President Trump [2][3] - U.S. export controls have limited TSMC's business with China, affecting key clients such as Nvidia and AMD, although recent assurances from the U.S. government may allow these companies to continue shipping products to China [4]