Core Insights - Keysight Technologies, Inc. has announced a significant advancement in end-to-end live new radio non-terrestrial networks (NR-NTN) connection in band n252, as defined by the 3GPP under Release 19 [1] - The demonstration, which is taking place at CES 2026, showcases live satellite-to-satellite (SAT-to-SAT) mobility utilizing Samsung Electronics' next-generation modem chipset [1] Company Highlights - The achievement marks a milestone in the development of NR-NTN technology, indicating progress in satellite communication capabilities [1] - The use of commercial-grade modem silicon and cross-vendor interoperability highlights the collaborative efforts in the industry to enhance connectivity solutions [1]

Market Overview - Global investors are navigating a turbulent market influenced by geopolitical events, particularly statements from the U.S. president, leading to a decline in Wall Street after reaching record highs [1] - Asian stocks are also trading down, while oil prices have stabilized following a sharp drop due to U.S. plans to purchase sanctioned Venezuelan crude [1] Defense Sector - U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a more than 50% increase in the defense budget by 2027, raising it to $1.5 trillion from the $901 billion approved for 2026, which would require congressional approval [2][7] - Trump has threatened to prevent defense contractors from paying dividends or buying back shares unless they increase weapons production, indicating a shift in defense spending priorities [2] Technology Sector - Samsung Electronics anticipates a three-fold increase in fourth-quarter operating profit compared to the previous year, driven by tight supply and heightened demand for artificial intelligence-driven memory chips [3] - Nvidia is now requiring full upfront payment from Chinese customers for its H200 artificial intelligence chips, reflecting concerns over regulatory approvals from Beijing [4] Media and Entertainment - Warner Bros Discovery's board has rejected Paramount Skydance's $108.4 billion hostile bid, labeling it a risky leveraged buyout that investors should avoid [3] Energy Sector - The U.S. administration's new energy strategy, termed the 'Donroe Doctrine', aims to assert dominance in the Western Hemisphere, potentially impacting U.S. oil companies as unintended casualties [5]

Market Overview - Asian shares ended mixed amid escalating China-Japan tensions and anticipation of key U.S. jobs data that could influence the Federal Reserve's rate trajectory [1] - Oil prices increased as the U.S. announced plans to control Venezuela's oil sales indefinitely [1] - Gold prices extended losses due to a firm dollar [1] Regional Indices - China's Shanghai Composite index closed marginally lower at 4,082.98, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined by 1.17% to 26,149.31, affected by basic materials and stocks [2] - Japan's Nikkei average dipped 1.63% to 51,117.26, with trade friction with China impacting chemical stocks and real wages falling at the fastest pace since January 2025 [2] Company-Specific Developments - Shin-Etsu Chemical shares fell by 4% following China's anti-dumping probe into Japanese chipmaking chemicals [3] - Technology stocks, including semiconductor-linked companies like SoftBank, Advantest, and Tokyo Electron, experienced declines of 2-8% [3] - Samsung Electronics shares dropped by 1.6% despite projecting a three-fold increase in fourth-quarter operating profit due to global demand for AI servers [4] Australian Market Performance - Australian markets rose modestly, led by financials and healthcare stocks, while miners faced profit-taking after a three-day winning streak [5] - The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 increased by 0.29% to 8,720.80, and the broader All Ordinaries settled 0.32% higher at 9,046.50 [6] - BlueScope Steel shares fell by 1.6% after rejecting a $9 billion takeover bid from SGH and Steel Dynamics [6] U.S. Market Insights - U.S. stocks fluctuated before ending mixed, with the S&P 500 down 0.3% and the Dow down 0.9% after reaching record closing highs [7] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged up by 0.2%, supported by economic reports indicating a slowing yet resilient labor market [7] - The JOLTS report suggested a cooling labor market, while ADP reported a modest rebound in private hiring, and the ISM Services PMI surprised to the upside [7]

Group 1 - Samsung Electronics is expected to report a record fourth-quarter operating profit, which may bolster investor confidence in AI-related investments [3] - Oil prices have rebounded after a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude inventories, prompting investors to buy futures [4] - Chevron is in discussions with the U.S. government to expand its license to operate in Venezuela, aiming to increase crude exports [4] Group 2 - Japanese domestic chemical manufacturers' shares declined, while Chinese rivals' shares rose due to China's anti-dumping probe into chipmaking chemicals, indicating strained bilateral relations [5] - The Nikkei index remains close to record highs, having increased by 2% for the year [5] Group 3 - The upcoming U.S. nonfarm payrolls report is anticipated to show a decrease in the unemployment rate to 4.5% from 4.6% in November, which may influence interest rate expectations [6][7]

Samsung Electronics expects record, above-consensus earnings for the final quarter of 2025, underscoring the scale of an artificial-intelligence-driven rebound in the global memory-chip market. The So... ...

Group 1: Market Performance - Asian stocks were mostly lower, with Seoul stocks outperforming due to Samsung Electronics surpassing 20 trillion won (approximately $13.8 billion) in quarterly operating profit for the first time [1] - South Korea's Kospi average jumped 1.1 percent, while shares of Samsung Electronics gained 1.5 percent on strong global demand for AI servers [4] - Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 edged up by 0.2 percent, led by gains in banks, healthcare, and tech stocks [5] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Investors are digesting uneven economic data from the United States, looking ahead to crucial jobs data and a Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's global tariffs [2] - The JOLTS report indicated a cooling labor market, while ADP reported a modest rebound in private hiring, and the ISM Services PMI surprised to the upside [6] Group 3: Commodity Prices - Oil prices remained little changed after two days of declines, supported by a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude inventories [3] - Gold prices were subdued after falling more than 1 percent due to profit-taking [3]

Core Insights - Samsung Electronics anticipates a tripling of its profits in Q4, reaching a record high of 20 trillion won, driven by surging memory prices due to AI demand [1][2] - The projected operating profit surpasses Samsung's previous record of 17.6 trillion won set in Q3 2018, indicating a significant year-over-year improvement [2] - The memory market is experiencing a 'Hyper-Bull' phase, with prices increasing by 40%-50% in Q4 2025 and expected to rise further in early 2026 [3] Company Performance - Samsung's shares have increased by over 145% in the past year, reflecting strong market performance amid rising memory prices [4] - The company is focusing on expanding its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) production capacity to compete with SK Hynix in the AI processor market [5] Market Dynamics - The demand for memory chips, particularly for AI applications, has led to a shortage affecting other sectors, including personal computers and mobile devices [2] - Major competitors in the memory space, such as SK Hynix and Micron, are also benefiting from the current market conditions [4]

Market Overview - US stock futures declined as investors prepared for labor data updates and reacted to President Trump's comments on defense spending and Venezuela [1][3] - Nasdaq 100 futures fell by 0.3%, S&P 500 futures decreased by 0.2%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped by 0.4% [1] Defense Sector - Defense stocks rebounded after Trump announced plans to increase military spending by over 50% to $1.5 billion annually, funded by tariff proceeds [2][7] - Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin saw stock increases of approximately 7% following the announcement, recovering from previous declines [2][8] - RTX and General Dynamics also experienced stock gains of 4% and 5%, respectively, as investor sentiment improved [9] Labor Market Updates - Markets are cautiously awaiting labor market updates, including JOLTS job openings and weekly initial jobless claims, amid signs of slowing private payrolls [3] - The upcoming jobs report for December is critical for Federal Reserve policy decisions [3] Geopolitical Factors - Trump's comments on Venezuela included the potential for the US to oversee the country's oil revenue, raising investor interest in the energy sector [4][11] - US oil companies expressed the need for guarantees from the government before investing in Venezuela, despite Trump's encouragement [11][12] Copper Market - S&P Global forecasts a significant copper shortage driven by increased demand from AI and defense spending, predicting a 50% rise in global demand by 2040 [14][17] - Demand from sectors like data centers and AI infrastructure is expected to surge, potentially tripling by 2040 [16][18] Technology Sector - Alphabet surpassed Apple in market capitalization for the first time since 2019, closing at approximately $3.88 trillion compared to Apple's $3.84 trillion [21][22] - Alphabet's stock rose over 2%, while Apple faced a decline of 4.7% over the past five days, highlighting differing positions in the AI landscape [22][23]

The South Korean technology giant said its operating profit likely reached 20.000 trillion won, equivalent to $13.81 billion, for the final quarter of 2025. ...

By Heekyong Yang and Joyce Lee SEOUL, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics on Thursday projected a three-fold jump in fourth-quarter operating profit from a year earlier to a record high as tight supply and a surge in artificial intelligence-driven demand stoked prices for conventional memory chips. The results highlight how ​chip prices have rocketed as chipmakers scramble to keep up with demand for memory chips used in servers, personal computers and mobile devices to meet AI ‌needs. The world's lar ...