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Oct 29
AI, semiconductors drive foreign investor gains, weakening Taiwan dollar
Taiwan's AI and semiconductor stocks have delivered substantial gains for foreign investors, who have recently taken profits, converted the proceeds into US dollars, and repatriated them, driving the New Taiwan dollar lower.
Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said at the opening of Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD26) on October 30 that the company's core competitive strengths lie in its "processing capabilities" and "vertical integration," as the company seeks to dispel the perception that it is merely a "box mover" handling basic system assembly.
Thailand-based precision sheet-metal manufacturer Jinpao Precision has entered the supply chain of a leading Thailand-based power-management company on the strength of its resilient manufacturing capabilities and highly adaptable product layout strategy. The company is accelerating its expansion in Thailand to capture growing AI demand as it furthers its efforts in high-end power cabinets, backup battery unit (BBU) systems, and energy-storage components.
Marvell is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Lumentum, a major laser supplier, in a deal that could be announced as early as next week if no other technology giant intervenes. Based on Lumentum's current market capitalization of approximately US$83 billion, the transaction would be Marvell's largest acquisition ever.
South Korean AI chip developers HyperAccel and Rebellions are moving beyond standalone accelerators to develop integrated data center systems, seeking to combine domestic processors, memory, and networking technologies into infrastructure capable of handling different AI workloads at lower cost.
Nvidia is reportedly evaluating billions of dollars in credit support for UK neocloud provider Nscale to help cover power and construction costs for a data center in West Virginia. Nscale faces simultaneous pressure to accelerate the launch of the Nvidia chip-powered campus, which is expected to be used by AI startup Anthropic, while preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), underscoring how AI infrastructure competition is expanding from chip supply to financing and construction capabilities.
Passive component manufacturer Yageo said robust AI demand is driving shipments of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and tantalum capacitors, pushing AI-related applications to nearly 20% of its total revenue in the third quarter of 2026, up from 16% in the preceding quarter.
Delta Electronics approved plans on October 28 to establish a large manufacturing base in Penang, Malaysia, as the power and thermal management company expands overseas production to support customer demand. The site is expected to ramp up to capacity comparable to that of Delta's Thailand operations over five years, with space reserved for process research and development and a potential future R&D center.
Intel's growing server business is strengthening its operating recovery, but a factory disruption and a prolonged PC downturn threaten its ability to convert demand into near-term sales. Its third-quarter results show why the turnaround now depends as much on supplying data centers as on reviving the client business that has long anchored the company.
Oracle will offer cloud services powered by Cerebras' AI computing systems in its cloud data centers starting in 2027, giving the wafer-scale chipmaker another major cloud customer. Although the companies did not disclose Oracle's planned Cerebras hardware purchases, the deal highlights the shift toward diversified AI compute resources as inference demand accelerates.
Citing a grave threat to national security and the vulnerability of American critical infrastructure, President Donald J. Trump has directed the Secretary of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to initiate immediate trade negotiations regarding foreign imports of industrial machinery, robotics, and their components.
Doosan Enerbility is strengthening its position in the AI-driven power infrastructure market, backed by 12 gas turbine orders in the US and an expanding nuclear energy portfolio. At Smart Energy Plus (SEP) 2026 in South Korea, the company showcased technologies spanning gas turbines, large nuclear reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), and offshore wind, highlighting delivery speed, manufacturing capacity, and long-term maintenance as increasingly critical competitive factors.