Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday he had "no information" about any cooperation with South Korea on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on semiconductors, adding that Taiwan was conducting talks only with the United States. ...

Core Viewpoint - Apple suppliers Skyworks Solutions and Qorvo are merging in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $22 billion, aiming to enhance competitiveness in the radio chip market [1][3]. Company Overview - Skyworks Solutions specializes in high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, while Qorvo focuses on connectivity and power solutions [4]. - The merger is expected to create a combined mobile business valued at $5.1 billion [4]. Financial Details - Qorvo shareholders will receive $32.50 in cash and 0.96 of a Skyworks common share for each Qorvo share held at the close of the transaction [1]. - The transaction is anticipated to close in early 2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals [1]. Shareholder Structure - After the merger, Skyworks shareholders will own approximately 63% of the combined company, while Qorvo shareholders will hold the remaining 37% [2]. Leadership and Governance - Skyworks CEO Phil Brace will become the CEO of the combined entity, and Qorvo CEO Bob Bruggeworth will join the board [3]. - The board will consist of eight directors from Skyworks and three from Qorvo [3]. Market Context - The companies produce radio frequency components and semiconductors for various technologies, including mobile phones, and believe that merging will enhance their ability to compete with larger rivals [3].

My fellow Americans:Prime Minister Nakasone of Japan will be visiting me here at the White House next week. It's an important visit, because, while I expect to take up our relations with our good friend Japan, which overall remain excellent, recent disagreements between our two countries on the issue of trade will also be high on our agenda.As perhaps you've heard, last week I placed new duties on some Japanese products in response to Japan's inability to enforce their trade agreement with us on electronic ...

Core Viewpoint - Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is highlighted as a significant player in the AI sector, with a recent price target increase from Bank of America to $300 per share, indicating strong growth potential in various markets [1][2]. Group 1: Market Opportunity - AMD operates in a multi-hundred billion dollar addressable market, including PC, server, high-end gaming, and deep-learning sectors, where it currently holds less than 30% market share [1]. - The company is expected to benefit from the deployment of its MI450 Series 'Helios' racks, which are set to launch in the second half of 2026, with support from major clients like Oracle, Meta, and OpenAI [2]. Group 2: Financial Projections - Analysts have adjusted their estimates, assuming a 50% fall-through from a deal with OpenAI, projecting a deployment of 6 GW over four years, which has led to increased sales and EPS estimates [2]. - The new price target of $300 is based on a 33x CY27E PE ratio, which remains within the historical range of 14x–55x [2]. Group 3: Upcoming Catalysts - The next significant event for AMD is the Analyst Day scheduled for November 11, which is anticipated to be a major catalyst for the stock [2]. - There is a noted low ownership of AMD among active fund managers, with only about 20% of funds holding the stock as of August, indicating potential for increased interest [2].

Core Insights - QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) has announced its agreement to acquire Arduino, an Italian open-source hardware and software company, to enhance support for developers by providing access to a comprehensive portfolio of edge technologies and products [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition of Arduino follows QUALCOMM's recent integrations of Edge Impulse and Foundries.io, indicating the company's commitment to developing a full-stack edge platform that encompasses hardware, software, and cloud services [2]. - The aim of this acquisition is to boost developer productivity across various industries by combining QUALCOMM's advanced processing, graphics, computer vision, and AI capabilities with Arduino's user-friendly and affordable tools [3]. Group 2: Strategic Vision - QUALCOMM's Group General Manager for Automotive, Industrial, and Embedded IoT emphasized that the acquisitions of Foundries.io, Edge Impulse, and Arduino are part of a strategy to democratize access to leading-edge AI and computing products for the global developer community [3]. - QUALCOMM is recognized as a major player in the semiconductor industry, creating products related to wireless technology, including processors, modems, platforms, RF systems, and connectivity solutions [3].

Core Viewpoint - Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) is currently viewed as one of the best American semiconductor stocks to invest in, with Bernstein maintaining a Market Perform rating and a price target of $21 [1][2]. Group 1: Potential Deal with AMD - Intel is reportedly in early discussions to potentially add Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) as a foundry customer, although details about the deal remain limited [1][2]. - There is uncertainty regarding the extent of AMD's manufacturing that could shift to Intel if an agreement is reached, and whether the deal would involve a direct investment [2][3]. - Bernstein has indicated that it is still possible that no deal will materialize between Intel and AMD [3]. Group 2: Challenges and Market Sentiment - Bernstein believes that Intel faces significant challenges in the current market landscape [3]. - Despite these challenges, the firm advises caution against shorting Intel's stock due to potential headline risks and anticipated volatility in share prices [3]. - The company is recognized for manufacturing central processing units (CPUs) and semiconductors [3].

Group 1 - Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is highlighted for its deal with OpenAI, with a focus on the belief in the financial viability of this partnership [1] - AMD designs and produces semiconductors, processors, GPUs, and adaptive computing solutions, which are essential for AI, cloud computing, and high-performance computing applications [2] - There is a perspective that while AMD has potential, other AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and less downside risk [3]

Trade Policy - Expanded steel and aluminum tariffs are just the beginning [1] - New levies are likely for sectors such as semiconductors, heavy trucks, and commercial aircraft [1]

It was a long week for economic data and some of it showed that tariffs are beginning to hit consumers harder. And today the president teased that tariffs on semiconductors that could be set as soon as next week. Those tariffs could be between two and 300%.Well, as much as economic data we got all week, I have been waiting all week to talk to this guy, my friend Justin Wolfers. He is a professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan. I want to talk about everything, but let's start sp ...

Trade Policy - The U.S President plans to impose tariffs on semiconductors within two weeks [1] - This action suggests a significant increase in the current tariff system [1]