TSMC, chipmaker to the tech giants, bounces back

The world’s leading semiconductor saw its sales jump 17% in the latest quarter

4/10/24 10:38AM

In Silico

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has caught the AI wave, posting double-digit growth for the first time since 2022, with a 17% surge in sales for the first quarter of 2024.

The world’s largest chipmaker, TSMC manufactures chips designed by the likes of Nvidia and Qualcomm. The output of the Taiwanese titan ends up in a countless number of products that make modern life tick, from smartphones to smart cars — and Apple is “by far” TSMC’s largest customer, spending tens of billions of dollars on TSMC chips for its Macs and iPhones.

After the pandemic-fueled tech binge cooled off, TSMC had a more sluggish 2023, reporting its first back-to-back quarterly sales decline since 2017. However, the AI revolution has reinvigorated demand for TSMC's high-end chips, with companies scrambling to stock up on the silicon that powers AI, bolstering the chipmaker’s sales in the most recent quarter: revenue in March alone was reportedly up 34% year-on-year.

TSMC's dominance remains a political football in the ongoing tensions between China and the US. In an attempt to bring more advanced semiconductor manufacturing back to American shores, the government has been working to boost its domestic semiconductor industry — on Monday announcing that TSMC could receive up to $11.6bn in grants and loans to help build its factories in Arizona.

Paramount Announces It's Cutting 2,000 Jobs

Paramount improved its Warner Bros. offer to $31 per share

WBD confirmed receipt of the new offer on Tuesday and said it would review the proposal.

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Archer Aviation sues rival Vertical, alleging air taxi design patent infringement

Archer Aviation alleged that Vertical’s Valo aircraft “mimics” its own Midnight aircraft.

Anglo American halves De Beers’ value as the natural diamond slump deepens

The miner has now written down De Beers by roughly $6.8 billion over the past three years.

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Paramount is expected to raise its Warner Bros. offer to $32 per share

Paramount’s seven-day window to talk to Warner Bros. Discovery about its best and final offer is set to end at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, and the company is expected to finally raise the per-share dollar amount of its bid.

According to reporting by Variety, Paramount’s revised offer is likely to arrive at $32 per share for the HBO and CNN parent.

Paramount’s last major revision to its offer came earlier this month, when it said it would cover the $2.8 billion breakup fee that WBD would owe Netflix in the event of that deal falling apart, and would pay shareholders a “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share for every quarter the deal hasn’t closed after the end of 2026.

Netflix’s next move will be determined by the response of Warner Bros.’ board. Per reporting by Reuters, the streamer has ample cash to increase its own offer for its streaming rival. Analysts at MoffettNathanson Research last week said they expect Netflix to walk away from Warner Bros. if Paramount’s bid comes in “well beyond” $32.

As of Monday at 9 a.m. ET, prediction markets speculating on which company will ultimately come out on top of the bidding war have Netflix at a 46% chance over Paramount’s 43% odds.

Also potentially affecting prediction markets is a Truth Social post by President Trump on Sunday, in which Trump wrote that Netflix must fire board member Susan Rice immediately or "pay the consequences."

(Event contracts are offered through Robinhood Derivatives, LLC — probabilities referenced or sourced from KalshiEx LLC or ForecastEx LLC.)

Paramount Is Expected to Raise Price of Warner Bros. Discovery Bid. Will Netflix Walk Away?

As of Monday at 9 a.m. ET, prediction markets speculating on which company will ultimately come out on top of the bidding war have Netflix at a 46% chance over Paramount’s 43% odds.

(Event contracts are offered through Robinhood Derivatives, LLC — probabilities referenced or sourced from KalshiEx LLC or ForecastEx LLC.)

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Microsoft makes dramatic shake-up to its gaming division as gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Xbox President Sarah Bond depart

Microsoft’s gaming division underwent a major shake-up on Friday, as the tech giant announced the departure of gaming CEO Phil Spencer, who led the division for 12 years and championed its Game Pass subscription service.

Xbox President Sarah Bond is also out, according to Spencer’s memo to employees.

Xbox has fallen significantly behind rivals Sony and Nintendo in recent years. Microsoft raised Xbox console prices twice last year and bumped subscription fees up 50%. In November, the console was even outsold (in unit sales) by the motion-controlled Nex Playground console.

The pair have overseen a shift at Xbox from standard consoles to an array of consoles, handhelds, and various devices and screens accessed via cloud gaming.

Spencer’s replacement as the head of gaming is Microsoft’s president of CoreAI product, Asha Sharma. In a memo to staff, Sharma made three commitments: great games, the “return of Xbox,” and to “invent new business models and new ways to play.”

Xbox chief Phil Spencer is leaving Microsoft