SK Hynix (000660.KS) CEO Kwak Noh-Jung will meet with Microsoft Corporation (MSFT.US) Co-founder Bill Gates and CEO Satya Nadella in the US, Korean media reported, citing sources.

The event is expected to further deepen the strategic partnership between Microsoft and SK Hynix, particularly in HBM supply.

Microsoft is a major customer of SK Hynix's DRAM and NAND flash products.
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NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA.US) CEO Jensen Huang boarded Air Force One in Alaska, joining more than a dozen US corporate CEOs to participate in US President Donald Trump's visit to China this week, foreign media reported, citing people with the knowledge of the matter.

Huang did not appear on a preliminary list of senior attendees previously provided by the White House. A US official said last month that NVIDIA's high-performance H200 chips have not yet been sold to China owing to difficulties in obtaining approval from the Chinese government. The White House has not responded to the matter.
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Taiwan bourse last quoted at 41,917 this morning (11th), up 313 points or about 0.75%. Global chip foundry leader TSMC (2330.TT) bucked the trend, sagging 1.5% to TWD2,255.

Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) and Intel Corporation (INTC.US) reached a preliminary agreement under which Intel will manufacture certain chips used to power Apple devices, the Wall Street Journal cited informed sources over the weekend as saying.

The two companies reportedly engaged in intensive negotiations for more than a year and finalized a formal agreement in recent months.

Major Asia-Pacific chip stocks thrived broadly this morning. SMIC (00981.HK) and HUA HONG SEMI (01347.HK) each spiked about 5%. In South Korea, Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK Hynix (000660.KS) surged 5.7% and 11.2%, respectively, both notching record highs. In Japan, Kioxia (285A.JP) rallied 7.6% to a new high. MediaTek (2454.TW) in Taiwan also jumped up 8.8% to a record high.
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The robotics sector picked up sharply, China Merchants Securities International (CMSI) wrote in a report. After the May Day holiday, robotics-related stocks in Hong Kong and A-shares markets have turned more vibrant, with share prices charting notable gains.

The broker attributed this to three factors. First, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA.US) was expected to start mass production of its robots in July or August, while supply chain order information is typically released one to two months in advance, giving rise to an early recovery in sector sentiment. Second, after a marked correction since February that formed a bottom range, the robotics sector has once again attracted capital primarily focused on AI industry chain investments. Third, some robotics supply chain companies have traditional core businesses in the automotive industry. Following the release of 1Q results, potential negative factors have been largely digested, shifting market focus back to individual companies growth prospects.

CMSI highlighted key companies to watch. 1) For complete machine manufacturers it recommended focusing on humanoid robot leader UBTECH ROBOTICS (09880.HK), its top pick in the robotics industry chain, as humanoid robot commercial applications are landing the fastest and the company raised its delivery guidance after its annual results. It also named DOBOT (02432.HK), which is a leader in collaborative robots, driven by both industrial and commercial segments, and is expanding rapidly into humanoid robotics. In vertical robotics, GEEKPLUS-W (02590.HK), a leader in warehouse robotics, is also worth attention. 2) For supply chain, its top pick is MINTH GROUP (00425.HK), whose progress in robotics, AI liquid cooling and the low-altitude economy beat expectations. Investors should watch for potential major breakthroughs in the AIDC field. The company's fuel cell system components, including SOFC and PEMFC, achieved order breakthroughs in domestic and overseas markets. SANHUA (02050.HK), a core supplier in the Tesla industry chain, is also highlighted. 3) For broader robotics plays, the broker expected that market interest will spread to the broader robotics segment in the later stage of the rally, with growing attention on HORIZONROBOT-W (09660.HK), HESAI-W (02525.HK) and ROBOSENSE (02498.HK).
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China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said that the online rumors claiming that new energy vehicle (NEV) makers were summoned and investigated over power locking issues are false information.

A relevant official of the CAAM stated that recent widely circulated online claims that eight NEV makers were summoned over power locking issues and three carmakers were formally placed under investigation was not stemmed from official source and were entirely inconsistent with the facts.

In response, XPENG-W (09868.HK), BYD COMPANY (01211.HK), GAC Aion, Zeekr, NIO-SW (09866.HK) and AITO shattered the rumors.

Tesla, Inc. (TSLA.US) and LI AUTO-W (02015.HK) told the media that the rumors of being summoned were untrue. Tesla stated that all of its software updates undergo rigorous testing and filing procedures. XPENG-W said that certain social media accounts maliciously hyped the issue through AI applications and included the company on the list, wreaking severe damage to its brand and reputation. After verification, the company has not been summoned recently nor placed under investigation, and it will pursue legal responsibility in accordance with the law.

BYD COMPANY's anti-fraud office issued a statement noting that false online rumors regarding BYD COMPANY being summoned and investigated were deliberately misleading the public and disrupting the online opinion environment. The company has collected evidence and will pursue legal responsibility against relevant parties in accordance with the law.

GAC Aion's legal department also clarified that the company has never been summoned by relevant authorities over the matters mentioned in the false information, nor has it been included on any investigation list. It will pursue legal responsibility against those spreading rumors in accordance with the law.
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A company linked to Thailand's national AI program is suspected of assisting in the smuggling of Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI.US)'s servers equipped with advanced chips from NVIDIA (NVDA.US) to China, with a total value of tens of billions of US dollars, Bloomberg reported, quoting people with the knowledge of the matter. BABA-W (09988.HK)(BABA.US) was reportedly one of the end customers.

In response, a spokesperson for Alibaba stated that the company has no business dealings with Super Micro Computer, OBON, or any third-party intermediaries allegedly involved in the accusations, and has never participated in any suspected smuggling activities.

The spokesperson added that Alibaba currently does not use, and has never used, any restricted NVIDIA chips in its data centers.
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CLSA issued a report noting that Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD.US) delivered results beat for 1Q26 and provided positive guidance for 2Q26. AMD indicated that the CPU-to-GPU ratio is now moving from traditional 1:4 (or 1:8) ratio towards a 1:1 ratio in AIDC infrastructure, which will expand the TAM for server CPUs to more than USD120 billion by 2030.

Among the companies covered by the broker, MONTAGE TECH (06809.HK) will directly benefit from strong CPU demand; GIGADEVICE (03986.HK) will benefit from rising memory demand and an upward memory price cycle; SMIC (00981.HK) will benefit from the overall semiconductor upcycle; while HUA HONG SEMI (01347.HK) is in a bottoming-out trend with support from wafer price hike.

The broker reiterated its High-Conviction Outperform rating on MONTAGE TECH, and Outperform ratings on GIGADEVICE, SMIC and HUA HONG SEMI.
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Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN.US) CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is contemplating manufacturing its own lidar and may cooperate with a Chinese company for production.

Last year, Rivian launched a new initiative aimed at producing its own chips as part of its plan to develop proprietary autonomous driving technology, in order to vie with Tesla, Inc. (TSLA.US).

Rivian is considering leveraging Chinese technology to manufacture lidar in the US, instead of directly sourcing from Chinese suppliers. Scaringe noted that the goal could be achieved through the establishment of a JV.
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Intel Corporation (INTC.US) shares last spiked 4.4% to US$100.03 in pre-market trading on Tuesday (5th).

Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) explores outsourcing OEM chip manufacturing to Intel Corporation (INTC.US) and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) as secondary options beyond its long-term partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSM.US), Bloomberg reported, citing people with the knowledge of the matter.

Apple had reportedly held early-stage talks with Intel. Meanwhile, senior Apple executives had also visited Samsung Electronics advanced chip fabrication plant currently under construction in Texas. Negotiations with both companies remain at an early stage, and no orders have been finalized.
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Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) explores outsourcing OEM chip manufacturing to Intel Corporation (INTC.US) and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) as secondary options beyond its long-term partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSM.US), Bloomberg reported, citing people with the knowledge of the matter.

Apple had reportedly held early-stage talks with Intel. Meanwhile, senior Apple executives had also visited Samsung Electronics advanced chip fabrication plant currently under construction in Texas. Negotiations with both companies remain at an early stage, and no orders have been finalized.
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AASTOCKS Financial News
Website: www.aastocks.com