Anwar-Lula phone call: Brazil interested in Malaysian semiconductors, invites PM to visit
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/10/anwar-lula-phone-call-brazil-interested-in-malaysian-semiconductors-invites-pm-to-visit

TSMC reports highest ever January sales
https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202402070009

HeiTech Padu shares surge 23%, paring bulk of recent selldown losses

The World’s Chip Industry Poised to Bounce Back After Tough 2023

Semiconductor Industry Association projects 13% rise in sales
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-05/chip-industry-is-poised-to-bounce-back-after-tough-2023

sam engineering

Higher global demand to boost Malaysia's semiconductor exports
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2024/01/30/higher-global-demand-to-boost-malaysia039s-semiconductor-exports

https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2024/01/30/higher-global-demand-to-boost-malaysia039s-semiconductor-exports

Higher global demand to boost Malaysia's semiconductor exports
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2024/01/30/higher-global-demand-to-boost-malaysia039s-semiconductor-exports

UWC sets sights on next chip up cycle
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/699673

S.Korea exports rise for fourth month on surge in chip sales, China rebound
https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/south-korea-jan-exports-rise-fourth-month-chip-sales-surge-2024-02-01/

S.Korea exports rise for fourth month on surge in chip sales, China rebound
https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/south-korea-jan-exports-rise-fourth-month-chip-sales-surge-2024-02-01/

South Korea’s exports rose for the fourth consecutive month in January, surging nearly 20% year-on-year as chip sales rebounded and shipments to China showed signs of recovery.

South Korea’s exports surge in January as chip sales recover
Exports rise for the fourth straight month
https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2024/02/01/GSVMY6ZL5BH6JIYDMIXQM64EAM/

Chinese analyst firm IC Wise predicts the domestic chip market will grow 12% in 2024 and the foundry market will rebound to 9% growth. It says much of the fresh demand will come from the auto sector and new energy, along with mobile phones and consumer electronics.
https://www.lightreading.com/semiconductors/china-chip-sector-eyes-return-to-growth#close-modal

https://m.malaysiastock.biz/Company-Announcement.aspx?id=1535175

https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2024/01/23/genetec-to-gain-from-battery-storage-systems

Southeast Asia markets are poised for a comeback with valuations at 'bargain basement,' Maybank says.
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/01/22/southeast-asia-markets-poised-for-a-comeback-with-valuations-at-bargain-basement-maybank-says.html

Southeast Asia markets are poised for a comeback with valuations at 'bargain basement,' Maybank says
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/01/22/southeast-asia-markets-poised-for-a-comeback-with-valuations-at-bargain-basement-maybank-says.html

China-based semiconductor equipment suppliers expected to continue surging growth in 2024.
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20240122PD205/china-semiconductor-equipment-growth-2024.html

China-based semiconductor equipment suppliers expected to continue surging growth in 2024
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20240122PD205/china-semiconductor-equipment-growth-2024.html

Nasdaq Index, Dow Jones, S&P 500 News: Semiconductor Demand Boosts Wall Street’s Bullish Trend
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/nasdaq-index-dow-jones-sp-500-news-semiconductor-demand-boosts-wall-streets-bullish-trend-1403571

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