US chipmakers

A technology analyst who examined China's latest semiconductor advances reports the country has developed chip capability that NVIDIA and the US had most feared, intensifying concerns over the US-China tech race. The claim has drawn heavy attention, fueling debate over export controls, domestic Chinese AI chips, and how far China has closed the gap with American chipmakers.

Nvidia is reportedly in talks to acquire Reflection AI, a US startup developing open AI models, according to a Financial Times report. The deal would mark a notable move by the chipmaker into open model development, building on its dominance in AI hardware as competition over frontier model companies intensifies across the industry.

China's largest DRAM maker, ChangXin Memory Technologies, is forecasting net income of up to US$19.8 billion for the first nine months of 2026, according to the South China Morning Post. The figure would mark extraordinary growth for the Hefei-based chipmaker as it expands memory production amid Beijing's push for semiconductor self-sufficiency.

ByteDance is reportedly closing in on an agreement with MediaTek to supply chips for its AI data centers, according to a report in focus across financial media. The news put Qualcomm, Broadcom and Nvidia stocks in the spotlight, as investors weigh what a shift toward MediaTek could mean for US chipmakers' exposure to ByteDance's massive AI infrastructure buildout.

US stock futures, including Nasdaq futures, rose as markets rebounded from a sharp selloff in chipmaking shares. Bloomberg reported stocks recovered from the semiconductor rout ahead of a heavy week of corporate earnings, with investors watching results from major technology companies for signals on the strength of the AI-driven rally. Traders are also positioning ahead of key economic data and Federal Reserve signals due in coming days.

A new argument is being made for expanding US export controls to deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines, the older but still critical chipmaking equipment made by firms like ASML. Advocates contend that restricting DUV technology would further slow China's ability to produce advanced semiconductors, extending beyond existing restrictions that focus on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) tools. Critics worry such controls could accelerate China's push for self-sufficiency.

US stock futures climbed as semiconductor shares rebounded following a sharp sell-off. Traders are watching whether the recovery in chipmakers, which have been among the market's most volatile stocks amid heavy AI-related investment, can hold into the next trading session. The move points to renewed risk appetite after the rout that hit technology stocks hardest.

GlobalFoundries has agreed a $5 billion deal to manufacture advanced chip components on behalf of TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker. The arrangement will see the US-based foundry produce parts destined for artificial intelligence processors, as surging AI demand pushes chipmakers to expand and share manufacturing capacity across the global supply chain.

Asian stock markets opened mixed on Tuesday following a selloff in technology shares that has pushed volatility higher on Wall Street. Investors across the region are weighing the impact of the tech pullback on exporters and chipmakers, with Japan-focused funds such as the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) in focus as traders assess whether the turbulence in US technology stocks will extend into Asian trading.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for increased investment in artificial intelligence, with his comments coming shortly before an expected deal involving US chipmaker Nvidia in Germany. The appeal underscores pressure on Europe's largest economy to speed up AI infrastructure spending and keep pace with the United States and China as major technology firms commit new capital to the region.

Intel has asked the US Federal Communications Commission for permission to make upgrades involving robot technology that falls under foreign equipment bans, Bloomberg reports. The request puts the chipmaker at the intersection of US trade restrictions on Chinese-sourced equipment and its own hardware development plans, raising questions about how strictly the bans will be enforced.

China is producing advanced memory chips despite lacking access to the most advanced chipmaking equipment, according to a report by Interesting Engineering. The development suggests Chinese manufacturers are finding workarounds to export controls that restrict the sale of top-tier lithography tools to the country. The report highlights the resilience of China's domestic semiconductor program and renewed attention on how far its chip industry has progressed under technology sanctions.

Activist investor Starboard Value has taken an interest in Skyworks Solutions, the US chipmaker that supplies Apple, arguing the company's shares are undervalued. The move puts pressure on Skyworks management to unlock shareholder value, and it adds Skyworks to the growing list of semiconductor companies targeted by activists amid ongoing consolidation talk in the industry.

Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT is moving into next-generation DRAM production, intensifying competition with established suppliers such as Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. The key question being raised is whether the company can manufacture advanced memory at a cost that competes globally, given its later start and reliance on older process technology as it tries to catch up.

Volvo Cars and Mercedes-Benz will build their next automated driving systems on NVIDIA technology, according to EV Infrastructure News. The news signals a deepening partnership between major European automakers and the US chipmaker as carmakers increasingly rely on NVIDIA's AI computing platforms for advanced driver assistance and self-driving capabilities. No further details about timelines or vehicle models were provided.

The ransomware group N0n has listed SMIC US Company, the Sunnyvale, California arm of China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, as a new victim on its leak site. The claim puts one of the world's most strategically important chipmakers in the spotlight, and security researchers are monitoring whether stolen data will be published.