By Aditya Soni and Echo Wang SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Trump administration's hefty new visa fees for H-1B workers have prompted high-level talks inside companies in Silicon Valley and beyond on the possibility of moving more jobs overseas - precisely the outcome the policy was meant to stop. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced the change to the visa program that has long been a recruitment pathway for tech firms and encouraged international students to pursue postgraduate cours ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the US economy, particularly the outlook for productivity and potential GDP growth, emphasizing the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in driving these metrics [3][4][6]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Potential GDP Growth**: The potential growth rate of the US economy has increased from approximately 1.8% before the pandemic to around 2.4% post-pandemic, driven by higher labor productivity and immigration [3][6]. 2. **Labor Force Growth**: Labor force growth is expected to average about 0.3 percentage points (pp) over the next few years, down from 0.8 pp since 2019, due to anticipated lower immigration and an aging population [3][27]. 3. **Productivity Growth**: Economywide labor productivity grew about 1.5% last year and 1.6% over the last five years, with nonfarm business productivity averaging 2% during the same period, compared to 1.5% pre-pandemic [16][34]. 4. **Impact of AI**: AI is projected to significantly boost productivity growth, with estimates suggesting an increase of about 0.4% in GDP through the next few years and 1.5% cumulatively in the long run [68][69]. 5. **Sector Contributions**: The tech sector and related industries, such as scientific research and consulting, have been major contributors to the recent productivity acceleration, accounting for approximately 0.3-0.4 pp of the overall productivity growth [50][54]. 6. **Measurement Challenges**: Current productivity statistics face measurement challenges, including underreported hours worked and unmeasured AI-related capital expenditures, which may lead to an overstatement of productivity growth [10][11][13]. 7. **Future Projections**: Economywide productivity growth is expected to average about 1.7% through 2029 and 1.9% in the early 2030s, with potential GDP growth likely averaging about 2.1% in 2025-2029 and accelerating to 2.3% in the early 2030s [4][74]. Additional Important Insights 1. **Immigration Trends**: The surge in immigration from 2022-2024 temporarily boosted labor force growth, but future immigration policies are expected to slow this growth [26][27]. 2. **Technological Innovation**: The report highlights that the recent productivity rebound is attributed to a strong pace of technological innovation, particularly in sectors poised to benefit from AI advancements [54][64]. 3. **Risks to Projections**: There are risks to the productivity outlook, including the possibility of faster-than-expected AI adoption or slower population growth, which could impact labor supply and productivity growth [79]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future outlook of the US economy, particularly in relation to productivity and potential GDP growth.

Market Overview - Asia-Pacific markets experienced an upward trend, driven by a technology rally on Wall Street following Nvidia's partnership with OpenAI, which has increased investor optimism regarding the future of artificial intelligence [1] - Australia's ASX/S&P 200 index rose by 0.17%, while South Korea's Kospi increased by 0.69%, and the small-cap Kosdaq added 0.28% at the open [1] Hong Kong Market Conditions - Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index decreased by 0.34% at the open due to the impending severe weather conditions, with Super Typhoon Ragasa expected to approach the Pearl River Estuary [2] - The Hong Kong Observatory has warned that conditions will deteriorate later in the day [2] - In contrast, Mainland China's CSI 300 index saw an increase of 0.31% [2] Indian Tech Sector Focus - Indian tech stocks remain a focal point after experiencing a decline, influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a $100,000 visa fee for new H-1B visas, which are primarily for high-skilled foreign workers [3] - According to U.S. government data, 71% of the nearly 400,000 H-1B visas issued in 2024 were allocated to Indian nationals [3]

With President Donald Trump issuing a new $100,000 H-1B visa cost mandate, stock market mavens may wonder what impact the new visa rule will have on big tech companies and, in particular, on the Magnificent 7 stocks . Larger technology businesses have historically relied on less expensive, yet highly talented, labor from India and China (which comprise 71% and 12% of approved foreign workers in 2024, respectively) to drive their operations, especially in tech development. At $100,000 per foreign employee, ...

By Johann M Cherian and Kanchana Chakravarty (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new fees on H-1B visas on Friday as part of his wide-ranging crackdown on immigration. Trump's executive order, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Sunday (0401 GMT), hikes the fee for H-1B visa applicants to $100,000. It is a one-time fee applied only to new applicants and not holders of existing visas or those seeking renewals. WHAT IS THE H-1B VISA PROGRAM? Established under the Immigration Act of 1990, th ...

President Donald Trump’s former economic adviser said tariffs are raising the cost of doing business—and it may just be making your job search harder. Gary Cohn, who served as director of the National Economic Council during the first Trump administration, said businesses are feeling the insecurity of rising input costs thanks to tariffs. And because companies feel they can’t raise prices for consumers, they turn to what they can control. “The one lever they can pull to make sure they keep their margins ...

Indians account for more than 70% of all H-1B visas. A steep $100,000 entry fee, paid by employers, for every worker entering the US under the program will effectively gut it, forcing large What should worry Prime Minister Modi more is how the new rule is being implemented. Introduced as a travel restriction, it had the appearance of an economic sanction, an escalation of the punishment the US leader has meted out to a staunch ally in recent months.Also Read: H-1B visa jitters -- Indian techie spends $8,00 ...

Key TakeawaysForex Markets Show Divergence: The NZD/USD reached a two-week low, while EUR/USD extended losses below 1.1750 due to US Dollar strength and Eurozone political concerns. Conversely, GBP/USD posted modest gains above 1.3450 despite worries over the UK's fiscal health.Asian Equities Mixed: Indonesia's stock benchmark, the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI), saw a 0.4% gain at open, following earlier rate cuts that propelled it to a record high, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HSI) declined by 1% ami ...

Satish, a graduate student from India studying in San Francisco, thought this fall would be about finishing his business degree and then lining up an H-1B visa, the work permit that’s become a mainstay for skilled immigrants in the US.Instead, he’s worried about his ability to build a career in the US as he tries to make sense of the Trump administration’s plan to raise the H-1B application fee to $100,000.Also read“When someone moves here, they move with the motive of working hard and building something be ...

Core Viewpoint - The stock prices of major tech companies like Tencent and Alibaba have surged significantly since early 2025, driven by strong operational performance and a revaluation of their tech attributes [1][4][12]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Tencent's market capitalization has returned to 6 trillion HKD, while Alibaba's has reached 3 trillion HKD, both marking nearly four-year highs [1][4]. - On September 17, 2024, Tencent's stock closed at 661.50 HKD per share, up 2.56%, and Alibaba's closed at 161.60 HKD per share, up 5.28% [9][10]. - Baidu's stock also saw a significant increase, closing at 131 HKD per share, up 15.72%, achieving a near two-year high [5][11]. Group 2: R&D Investments - In 2024, Tencent, Alibaba, and Baidu's R&D investments were 70.686 billion CNY, 57.151 billion CNY, and 22.133 billion CNY, respectively, highlighting the increasing importance of technology [7]. - Tencent's R&D investment has more than doubled from 22.936 billion CNY in 2018 to 70.686 billion CNY in 2024, reflecting a strong commitment to innovation [16]. - Baidu's R&D investment has consistently exceeded 20 billion CNY annually from 2021 to 2024, with a projected R&D revenue ratio of approximately 16.63% in 2024 [16]. Group 3: AI Technology and Applications - Major tech companies are making significant advancements in AI technology, with Tencent announcing multiple AI product developments and a commitment to open its AI capabilities through Tencent Cloud [14]. - Baidu is testing its self-developed Kunlun chip for training its new Wenxin large model, showcasing its progress in AI core technology [7][14]. - AI technology is increasingly integrated into business operations, with Tencent applying AI across over 700 business scenarios, enhancing creativity and operational efficiency [17]. Group 4: Financial Performance - Tencent's revenue for 2024 and the first half of 2025 reached 660.257 billion CNY and 364.526 billion CNY, respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 8.41% and 13.69% [18]. - Baidu's net profit for the same periods was 23.760 billion CNY and 15.039 billion CNY, with year-on-year growth rates of 16.96% and 37.52% [19].