Regardless of Samsung and Intel's third-quarter earnings, the real story isn't in comparing them to TSMC. What's critical now is each company's internal recalibration and its leadership's ability to articulate a clear path forward.

Microcontroller unit (MCU) manufacturer Holtek has observed increasing demand for small household appliances during China's Singles' Day and Double 12 shopping festivals. The company also notes positive effects of the Chinese government's subsidy policies, which have stimulated market activity.

The surge in generative AI applications is fueling fresh demand for AI servers, while simultaneously revitalizing end-user devices like PCs and smartphones. More than a year ago, the supply chain signaled that Nvidia, riding high, was poised to challenge x86 giants Intel and AMD by partnering with MediaTek on an AI PC platform set for 2025.

Liteon Technology will continue to focus on AI servers, green energy, and high-performance infrastructure, with the company planning shipments of 33kW power shelves for next-generation AI servers in the fourth quarter of 2024. Furthermore, the company has completed testing of its liquid-to-liquid cooling system, with initial shipments slated to begin in 2025, and is formally entering the home energy storage market. Despite the traditionally off-peak season, the company expects both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year growth as revenue from AI-related products continues to rise.

Cloud giants have recently released their latest financial results, with Alphabet and Microsoft reporting robust cloud performance, easing prior market concerns about the monetization of AI applications.

During Apple's earnings call on October 31, senior executives emphasized the company's commitment to quality, which has influenced the pace of the Apple Intelligence launch across regions. Additionally, favorable foreign exchange developments benefited Apple, helping the company maintain stable performance in China.

The era of advanced process inflation has arrived, with the price of 3nm processes continuing to rise. Key system-on-chip (SoC) components such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite and MediaTek's Dimensity are seeing significant price increases, leaving downstream smartphone manufacturers in distress, lamenting that the inflation from "advanced processes" is causing smartphone prices to rise instead of fall, making business increasingly difficult.

Micro LED technology is emerging as a promising solution for high-speed AI data transmission and SiPh-based optical communication. Dr. David Su, Chief Strategy Officer of Ennostar, has emphasized that traditional copper wiring is inadequate for AI's escalating data requirements.

On October 28, HTC reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024, highlighting ongoing challenges despite years of investment in AR, VR, and XR technology. Although HTC has expanded its tech ecosystem, the metaverse market remains in its infancy, and its smartphone business struggles against dominant brands. As a result, HTC has now posted its 26th consecutive quarterly loss, with hopes pinned on new strategic investments to break its cycle of losses and revitalize its operations.

Tesla's latest announcement regarding its self-driving taxi (Robotaxi) has attracted worldwide interest, indicating a significant advancement in its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. However, hurdles exist for the electric vehicle vendor pushing autonomous driving in not only the US but also China.

European electric vehicle sales fell short of expectations in the first half of 2024, capturing 14% of the market. Transport and Environment (T&E) points to fragmented green subsidies across EU nations as the primary cause of market disruption. While China-backed automakers like BYD capitalize on subsidies to maintain competitive pricing, EU tariffs designed to protect local industries have failed to stimulate EV sales, leaving European manufacturers grappling with stricter emission regulations.

Lilium, a German electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) company often called the Tesla of flying cars, is planning to file for insolvency and will seek self-administration proceedings.

China's solar energy industry has been grappling with severe oversupply and aggressive price competition in the local market since 2024. In late October, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) collaborated with executives from Tier 1 solar energy manufacturers to establish a price floor agreement aimed at stabilizing prices. With support from the Chinese government, Chinese solar prices have begun to stabilize, a development that carries substantial market implications.

Following the convening of local enterprises by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) to address vicious competition tactics in China's solar energy industry, Chinese solar firms have jointly acknowledged the significance to mitigate price-cutting practices, according to industry sources.

Taiwan can generate enough green energy to fuel AI sector growth, says Economic Affairs Minister J.W. Kuo, addressing Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's projection of 10 billion kWh in annual green electricity for a potential Taiwan investment.

As the only Taiwanese exhibitor at the 2024 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) show, Thunder Tiger is strengthening its presence for the second consecutive year, demonstrating notable evolution in its offerings.

Taiwan is set to make its mark in deep space exploration with its first-ever lunar mission, scheduled for launch this December. The project, led by Professor Loren Chang, Department Chair and Distinguished Professor of Space Science and Engineering at National Central University (NCU), aims to measure radiation levels between Earth and the moon—critical data for future space endeavors.

The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on supply chains, impacting not only consumer electronics but also specialized maritime equipment. Ubiqconn, a subsidiary of Popular Holdings, suffered a severe blow in 2024 due to inventory adjustments among maritime equipment manufacturers. Ubiqconn Chairman Leo Chien said that the inventory clearance is nearly complete, with the company expected to return to growth in 2025.

John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and China, has recently written to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin regarding China's subsidies for LCD and OLED displays. In his letter, he argued that these subsidies have driven non-Chinese companies out of the market, strengthening China's dominance in the display sector.

While China's recent "trade-in" subsidy policy has boosted demand for large-size TVs, stabilizing LCD TV panel prices, monitor panel prices continue to decline amid weak IT demand. Industry analysts expect this downward trend to persist through the fourth quarter of 2023.

Corning is in negotiation with customers about raising prices for its display glass substrates, with panel makers bracing for double-digit increases.