PHLX Semiconductor Index up 4.02% on Friday.
https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/index/sox

PHLX Semiconductor Index was up 4.02% on Friday.
https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/index/sox

S&P 500 notches 1st record high close in 2 years on AI bets
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/S-P-500-notches-1st-record-high-close-in-2-years-on-AI-bets

Data Center News Roundup: HPE Acquires Juniper, Malaysia Embarks on Growth Vision
https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/networks/data-center-news-roundup-hpe-acquires-juniper-malaysia-embarks-growth-vision

https://readwrite.com/malaysia-is-doubling-down-on-the-chip-industry-to-capture-growth-in-evs/

https://www.emsnow.com/global-semiconductor-sales-increase-5-3-year-to-year-in-november-sia/

https://www.emsnow.com/global-semiconductor-sales-increase-5-3-year-to-year-in-november-sia/

Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 5.3% Year-To-Year In November: SIA
https://www.emsnow.com/global-semiconductor-sales-increase-5-3-year-to-year-in-november-sia/

Yellen Declares US Economy Has Achieved Soft Landing
Real wage increases mean American workers ‘getting ahead’
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks in televised interview
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-05/yellen-declares-us-economy-has-achieved-soft-landing

PC, Smartphone Rebound To Drive Chip Sales In 2024
https://www.investors.com/news/technology/semiconductor-stocks-rally-ahead-of-expected-rebound/

China Injects $50 Billion Into Policy Banks in Stimulus Push

Net injection marks largest increase via tool since Nov. 2022
Controversial PSL program used heavily between 2014 and 2019
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-02/china-injects-50-billion-into-policy-banks-in-financing-push

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea’s semiconductor industry recorded the largest gains in years in both production and shipments, underscoring a revival of technology momentum that bodes well for the nation’s economic outlook next year and for the global tech sector.

South Korea Chip Output Jumps in Sign of Returning Global Demand
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/south-korea-chip-output-jumps-in-sign-of-returning-global-demand-1.2015951.amp.html

South Korea chip output rises as demand improves
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2023/12/29/2003811294

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/south-korea-chip-output-jumps-in-sign-of-returning-global-demand

South Korea Chip Output Jumps in Sign of Returning Global Demand
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/south-korea-chip-output-jumps-in-sign-of-returning-global-demand

Upsurge in demand for E&E products
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2023/12/25/upsurge-in-demandfor-ee-products

Fed’s preferred inflation measure surprises economists by falling in November
https://fortune.com/2023/12/22/pce-inflation-november-fall-slide-lower-2-6/amp/

“A sustained easing in price pressures will support a shift in the (Fed’s) policy stance next year, from holding rates steady to lowering them over time,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. “”The exact timing will depend on how the labor market, inflation and growth will evolve next year. Based on our forecasts, we expect the Fed to start cutting rates by the middle of next year.”

Micron Gives Strong Forecast After Data Center Demand Grows

Company has been contending with sluggish phone and PC markets
CEO expects 2024 to be a rebound year for battered industry
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-20/micron-gives-strong-forecast-in-sign-that-demand-is-rebounding

Global Bonds Rally as Softer UK Inflation Boosts Rate-Cut Bets

German 10-year yield falls below 2% for first time since March
US, UK bonds also gain as traders amp interest-rate cut bets
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-20/german-10-year-yield-falls-below-2-for-first-time-since-march?embedded-checkout=true

P/B 1.11

The rise of test equipment giants amid tech boom

Over the past few decades, the Malaysian semiconductor scene has largely been dominated by the labour-intensive outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) companies.

Companies like Inari Amertron Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd (MPI), Unisem (M) Bhd, Globetronics Technology Bhd and KESM Industries Bhd were established to provide outsourced services such as assembly, packaging and testing to multinational corporations (MNCs) that include Advanced Micro Devices, Analog Devices, Agilent Technologies (formerly Hewlett Packard), Broadcom, Lumileds, Jabil, Renesas, Western Digital, Intel, Dell, Osram, Infineon and Micron. These foreign companies set up operations in Malaysia, most of them in Penang, with some starting as early as the 1970s.

https://techreport.com/news/malaysia-becomes-major-hub-for-chinese-companies-high-end-chips-report/

https://techreport.com/news/malaysia-becomes-major-hub-for-chinese-companies-high-end-chips-report/

Malaysia’s semiconductor industry is considered one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world.
Several Chinese semiconductor design companies are tapping Malaysian firms for chip assembly
Assembling chips does not contravene any US restrictions.
https://techwireasia.com/12/2023/could-malaysia-semiconductor-industry-help-china/

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): APB Resources Bhd is acquiring 70 million shares in Globetronics Technology Bhd, representing a 10.41% stake in the Penang-based semiconductor manufacturer, for RM140 million cash.
The consideration of RM140 million or RM2 per share is a 16% premium to Globetronics' share price of RM1.73 at the time of writing.

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/694383

Bank of America upgraded several semiconductor stocks, including AMD (NASDAQ:AMD), Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU), and Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), anticipating an intra-sector rotation after the semiconductor index's significant rise in 2023. Analysts expect continued growth driven by generative AI, complex chips, and the CHIPs Act, despite the consumer chip inventory correction appearing to have concluded.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/morning-brew-costco-rises-strong-142116352.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAOZrufLhzMLFSWj9_4IXLlN6EyZoKOSdd4xqerJS8CGY6B34f1TIofQVMMD5FvdmtaEYl6u_t4P8nwFYL0neTB47bMWm1wSswQ7fXkhsbbAe31HcGnPxtZ4vgA5tw_gHe_zdPDvyrnU4L0AqWS9UWPjfFTraIo7UeHhjMSBNl_f

Morning Brew: Costco Rises on Strong Sales, Semiconductor Bill Approved
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/morning-brew-costco-rises-strong-142116352.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAOZrufLhzMLFSWj9_4IXLlN6EyZoKOSdd4xqerJS8CGY6B34f1TIofQVMMD5FvdmtaEYl6u_t4P8nwFYL0neTB47bMWm1wSswQ7fXkhsbbAe31HcGnPxtZ4vgA5tw_gHe_zdPDvyrnU4L0AqWS9UWPjfFTraIo7UeHhjMSBNl_f

Dow Surges To Record High Amid Interest Rate Optimism Following Fed Report
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/12/13/dow-surges-to-record-high-amid-interest-rate-optimism-following-fed-report/amp/

Dow Surges To Record High Amid Interest Rate Optimism Following Fed Report
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/12/13/dow-surges-to-record-high-amid-interest-rate-optimism-following-fed-report/amp/

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/Nvidia-CEO-sees-potential-in-Southeast-Asia-as-AI-market

Nvidia to partner Malaysia's YTL Power in $4.3 billion AI development project

Nvidia to partner Malaysia's YTL Power in $4.3 billion AI development project

Global semiconductor industry sales for October fell 0.7% year-over-year to $46.6 billion, according to data from The Semiconductor Industry Association [SIA].

Sales rose 3.9%, compared to the September 2023 total of $44.9 billion, SIA added.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/4044808-sia-sees-double-digit-growth-for-global-semiconductor-sales-in-2024

https://disclosure.bursamalaysia.com/FileAccess/apbursaweb/download?id=225451&name=EA_FR_ATTACHMENTS

https://m.malaysiastock.biz/Company-Announcement.aspx?id=1523751

https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2023/11/28/dnex-to-remain-resilient-while-leveraging-on-its-expertise

The global semiconductor manufacturing industry is on track for recovery in the fourth quarter of 2023, setting the stage for continued growth in 2024, Semi and Techinsights predict. Q4 IC sales are expected to rise 4 percent sequentially as end demand improves and inventories normalize. Electronic sales are predicted to register a robust 22 percent quarter-over-quarter increase in Q4 2023..
https://bits-chips.nl/artikel/ic-sales-start-moving-upward/

The global semiconductor manufacturing industry is on track for recovery in the fourth quarter of 2023, setting the stage for continued growth in 2024, Semi and Techinsights predict. Q4 IC sales are expected to rise 4 percent sequentially as end demand improves and inventories normalize. Electronic sales are predicted to register a robust 22 percent quarter-over-quarter increase in Q4 2023.
https://bits-chips.nl/artikel/ic-sales-start-moving-upward/

Analysts upbeat on Malaysian Pacific Industries prospects amid semiconductor recovery
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/690181

HIGHEST GROWTH IN PROFIT AFTER TAX OVER THREE YEARS: TECHNOLOGY: Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd - Automotive-centric strategy proves prescient

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/689627

Malaysia plans to accelerate its EV and chip sectors as supply chains shift
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Supply-Chain/Malaysia-plans-to-accelerate-its-EV-and-chip-sectors-as-supply-chains-shift

Malaysia welcomes investments in semiconductor value chain
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/688956

KLCI expected to trend higher in coming week
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/689751

Chip sector – from crisis to recovery
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2023/11/11/chip-sector---from-crisis-to-recovery

Logistics players ride the wave of Malaysia’s semiconductor surge from ‘chip war’
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/logistics-players-ride-the-wave-of-malaysia-s-semiconductor-surge-from-chip-war

TSMC October revenue hits new high, up 34.8% MoM
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20231110PD207/ic-manufacturing-japan-semiconductor-tsmc.html

Nvidia will reportedly sell new chips to China that still meet U.S. rules
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/10/nvidia-will-reportedly-sell-new-chips-to-china-that-still-meet-us-rules.html

Two of Bank of America Corp.’s leading markets strategists struck a rare agreeable tone on Friday, each prophesying gains ahead for equities — at least in the near term.