$AMD $AMZN #semiconductors #semiconductor

Memory chip giant Samsung Electronics is introducing a 1-Friday per month off policy to help workers find work-life balance, media report, noting production line workers are excluded from the policy due to their rotating shifts. #Samsung #semiconductor

A second TSMC fab in Kumamoto, Japan faces hurdles due to a land shortage, Nikkei reports, as towns in the important farming region rush to set aside what land they can for new factories. $TSM #semiconductors

Chip IP developer eMemory became the 2nd highest priced share in Taiwan Tuesday after it closed +7.5% to NT$2,365, overtaking stalwart Largan at NT$2,230, but still behind chip designer Aspeed Technology at NT$2,720, media report.

Six TSMC vice presidents, including CFO Wendell Huang, J.K. Lin, Cliff Hou, net bought over 77,000 shares of TSMC stock in May, media report, noting the average stock price in May was NT$523.92/share, valuing the deal over NT$40 million (US$1.3 mln). $TSM

Technology investor Cathie Wood’s ARK fund reportedly bought US$10 million worth of TSMC shares Monday, the first ever TSMC purchase by the fund, Taiwan media report. $TSM

Work on TSMC’s new factory campus in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (south) is up and running, media report, as a city councilor hiked a nearby mountain to provide photographic proof - and urge fellow councilors to speed up road building, other infrastructure. $TSM

3/3 Media noted disappointment from Wall Street that AMD’s announcement did not include any major customers. AMD shares fell 3.6% Wednesday. $AMD

The new chips are made on a 5nm FinFet process and packaged via 3D chiplet stacking, AMD said. $AMD $TSM

Production of AMD’s new artificial intelligence chip meant to challenge market leader Nvidia will ramp up in the 4th quarter, with sample chips ready for customers in the 3rd quarter, media report. 1/3 $AMD $NVDA $TSM

Rumors that Apple will raise prices 10%-20% on new iPhone 15 models, or US$100-$200 each, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max 1TB topping all others at $1,800, is good news for suppliers such as Foxconn, TSMC, Pegatron, Largan, media report. $AAPL $TSM

中文版: 第一季前十大晶圓代工業者營收季減近兩成，第二季仍將持續下滑

TrendForce: TSMC’s share of the chip foundry market topped 60% in the 1st quarter (Q1), amid a 20% Q-on-Q drop in revenue among the top 10 foundries, led by a 36.1% drop at Samsung to US$3.45 billion. TSMC’s revenue fell 16.2% to $16.74 billion. GlobalFoundries overtook UMC for…

TSMC’s stock market value could top NT$15 trillion if the stock price rises NT$5 on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on Tuesday, media report, and it could get a lift from the 4.1% gain overnight in TSMC’s U.S.-listed shares. $TSM

Note: Such legislation may sound draconian, yet unfortunately it is necessary. The CCP will likely respond by making sure those it sends to steal sensitive tech at universities change citizenship to Hong Kong or Singapore instead.

The Dutch government is working on legislation that will be used to bar China students from university programs on sensitive technologies including semiconductors and defense, Bloomberg reports, citing unnamed sources.

There will definitely be a brisk air cargo business out of the area with all the TSMC and Intel fabs there. Interesting opportunity.

South Korea indicted a former Samsung Electronics executive Monday on suspicion of stealing technology to build a rival semiconductor factory in Xi'an, China, Reuters reports. #semiconductor

Alchip has not lost orders to Marvell for work on Amazon’s AI chip, the president of Taiwan chip designer Alchip reportedly said, adding Alchip remains in talks with Amazon and should have an update early in the 3rd quarter, media report. $AMZN $MRVL

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) conference runs June 12-16 in Taipei, media report, the 1st time it’s ever been held in Taiwan. Participants from around the world are expected to discuss topics including specs for 6G at the event. #6G

Foxconn is offering big sign on bonuses for workers at its major iPhone campus in Zhengzhou, China, as it ramps up iPhone 15 assembly capacity, media report. Foxconn is offering CNY7,500-8,000 yuan (US$1050 - $1120) per hire. Related, Foxconn’s subsidiary, Ingrasys Technology, is…