TSMC's July 16 earnings call is likely to test how far the chipmaker can extend its already upbeat guidance, as investors look for signs that AI demand, flagship smartphone launches, and broader wafer orders can offset inflation, materials shortages, and mounting manufacturing complexity. The market is watching for another upgrade to revenue, spending, and margin targets.
The 2026 smartphone market is facing a dark outlook as memory prices rise and shortages tighten supply, weighing on low- and mid-range handsets and hitting power amplifier (PA) shipments. Supply-chain companies said weaker gross margins are prompting brand owners to cut production and delay new model launches, while consumer caution is also dragging on demand.
SK Group chairman Tae-Won Chey is reportedly set to travel to the US for SK Hynix's American depositary receipt (ADR) listing on Nasdaq, where he will personally attend the celebration in New York. The move is being seen as more than a capital market event, as it marks an important moment in SK Hynix's effort to reposition itself from a traditional memory maker into a core company in AI infrastructure.
Rising demand for AI chips is changing how foundries set prices, giving TSMC and Samsung Electronics more leverage while forcing new entrants such as Rapidus to compete carefully on cost.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix may take longer than expected to adopt hybrid bonding in next-generation high-bandwidth memory, as industry sources cited by ZDNetKorea say the near-term case for the technology has weakened even though its long-term relevance remains intact.
Analog Devices (ADI) announced that it has completed its acquisition of Empower Semiconductor, a move it said is designed to bolster the company's role as a comprehensive power partner spanning the entire AI ecosystem, from grid infrastructure to core computing systems.
Where will cloud AI's next wave of growth come from? Increasingly, the market is answering with two words: sovereign AI.
Infineon has secured a final US import ban against Innoscience after the US International Trade Commission's May 7 ruling was upheld following the presidential review period, confirming that the Chinese GaN power semiconductor maker infringed an Infineon patent. The decision blocks the import and sale of Innoscience's infringing gallium nitride (GaN) products in the US market.
Foxconn Chairman Young Liu recently revealed that one of the group's IC design subsidiaries is preparing for a Taiwan listing as early as 2026, potentially on the Taiwan Innovation Board. While Liu did not identify the company, industry observers believe the most likely candidate is Socle Technology Corp (Socle).
