semiconductor manufacturing

Apple CEO Tim Cook lauded President Trump's emphasis on boosting U.S. semiconductor manufacturing during a business executive gathering. Cook highlighted Apple's dedication to the American economy, referencing their substantial $500 billion investment plan over the next four years.

Zoho has halted its $700 million investment in chip manufacturing due to a lack of confidence in available technology. The company, which intended to invest $400 million in a Karnataka-based semiconductor facility, decided to shelve the plan until a more promising technological approach emerges. This decision follows concerns about securing taxpayer money without certainty in the tech.

Adani Group and Zoho Corp are reportedly backing away from their semiconductor projects, dealing a blow to India's ambition to establish a domestic chip manufacturing ecosystem. Zoho cited a lack of confidence in the technology path, while Adani expressed concerns about weak demand and limited financial commitment from its partner.

Adani Group has put a pause on its $10 billion chip venture discussions with Tower Semiconductor due to concerns over strategic and commercial viability, including uncertain domestic demand and Tower's investment commitment. This setback poses a challenge to India's ambition to become a global chipmaking hub, especially after the collapse of the Vedanta-Foxconn deal.

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighted India's appeal for OEMs, citing Apple's decision to manufacture most iPhones sold in the US from India as an example of economically sound investment. India has transformed from a major mobile phone importer to a leading producer and exporter, with 15% of global iPhones now made in India.

AMD CEO Lisa Su emphasized China's significant role in the semiconductor and AI sectors, advocating for balanced export controls that safeguard national security while promoting widespread technology adoption. Despite U.S. restrictions on advanced AI chip sales to China, AMD acknowledges the market's importance for growth, even with potential revenue impacts from curbs on chips like the MI308.

More than just another incentive program, this PLI scheme represents India’s ambition to climb up the global manufacturing value chain, fostering design-led, quality-driven, resilient manufacturing capabilities.

Despite U.S. restrictions, Huawei is developing the Ascend 910D, a powerful AI processor aiming to rival Nvidia's H100 chip. This move highlights China's resilience in the semiconductor industry and its push for technological self-sufficiency. Huawei plans to ship significant quantities of its Ascend chips, demonstrating its ability to overcome challenges and compete in the AI sector.

Mayor Eric Adams met with Donald Trump at the White House, a visit framed as a policy discussion but shadowed by political questions. This meeting occurred the same day documents related to Adams' corruption case were unsealed, a case dropped by Trump's Justice Department amid controversy and resignations.

Wall Street saw a subdued week, with US stocks declining ahead of US-China trade talks. Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq composite also slipped. Attention is on the meeting in Switzerland, with investors awaiting updates. Trump floated a tariff reduction, impacting market sentiment. Lyft and Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing gained, while Expedia and Sweetgreen faced declines.

Apple is expanding its chip development, creating specialized processors for smart glasses, more powerful Macs, and dedicated AI servers. The smart glasses processor, slated for mass production in late 2026 or 2027, signals Apple's entry into the smart glasses market. Furthermore, Apple is developing AI server chips to enhance Apple Intelligence services and new Mac processors for future devices.

Tesla is in discussions with Micron and CG Semi to diversify its semiconductor supply chain, reducing reliance on China amidst geopolitical tensions and rising costs. These partnerships align with Tesla's broader strategy of engaging with Indian manufacturers.

Indian Institute of Science aims to develop angstrom-scale chips. This project seeks to position India as a leader in semiconductor technology. A team of scientists has proposed this to the ministry. The chips will be smaller than current ones. It could revolutionize industries like AI and quantum computing. The project requests Rs 500 crore funding.

The U.S. reciprocal tariffs on China are set to cause major disruptions to global supply chains, forcing American companies to explore alternative suppliers. Electronics is one of the key sectors for India to gain with India's exports valued at nearly USD 14 Bn.

The government has launched the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) with a budget of Rs 23,000 crore to enhance domestic electronics production. The scheme prioritizes firms with strong local design capabilities and quality standards. It aims to increase India's global electronics manufacturing share to 8 per cent and attract significant investments, creating numerous jobs and boosting production value.

US stocks are showing positive movement, potentially ending a quiet week with gains. Investors are awaiting the outcome of US-China trade talks in Switzerland, with concerns about recession looming if tariff issues aren't resolved. Company earnings are influencing the market, with Lyft and Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing experiencing notable gains, while Expedia faced a decline due to softer demand.

Indian Institute of Science (IISc) proposes developing 'angstrom-scale' chips using 2D materials like graphene, potentially surpassing current 3-nanometer silicon chips. Submitted to the government, the Rs 500 crore project aims to establish India as a semiconductor leader.