Seoul stocks paused Friday after a six-day surge, with the KOSPI index falling 0.13% to 9,052.42. Investors cashed out gains from an AI boom due to postponed U.S.-Iran talks, impacting chip and defense stocks.
Seoul stocks dipped Friday after a six-day surge, as investors cashed out gains from an AI boom amid renewed Iran uncertainties. The KOSPI fell 0.13% to 9,052.42 after planned talks with Iran were postponed.
Seoul stocks paused Friday after a six-day rally, with investors cashing out gains from an AI boom amid renewed Iran uncertainties. The KOSPI fell 0.13% after choppy trading, influenced by postponed talks between the U.S. and Iran.
The global memory chip market is projected to more than quadruple to 1,500 trillion won ($975 billion) by 2026, driven by AI infrastructure investments. Server memory products are key, accounting for 56% of revenue this year.
A new super PAC, the Guardrails Alliance, launched by Democratic operatives, aims to support AI legislation and counter anti-regulation efforts in the tech sector. Backed by tech employees and unions, it plans to raise $15 million to support candidates like Alex Bores.
Indian IT companies are struggling to find Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) needed for AI adoption. They are bundling roles, leading to clients not receiving expected deep tech expertise and potentially higher costs.
Microsoft reportedly ended talks for a $3 billion cloud infrastructure deal with Oracle due to FedRAMP security concerns. Oracle disputes the claims, highlighting their partnership. The failed deal underscores the strain on computing resources amid the AI boom, with Microsoft seeking capacity elsewhere.
Databricks sees soaring revenue driven by AI adoption, but higher costs from increased AI agent usage are impacting margins. The company's CEO, Ali Ghodsi, noted the shift from 'tokenmaxxing' to 'value-maxxing' as businesses optimize AI spending. Databricks continues to grow privately, outvaluing rival Snowflake.
A controversial datacenter proposal on the site of a former asylum in East Vincent, Pennsylvania, faces strong local opposition due to environmental and health concerns. The project has ignited a political debate involving the governor, state lawmakers, and gubernatorial candidates over AI infrastructure growth.
Chipmaker Nvidia is set to sell $25 billion in investment-grade debt, its first bond sale in five years, to test investor appetite for the AI sector. The offering, upsized from $20 billion due to strong demand, will feature maturities from two to 30 years.
Artificial intelligence is driving a surge in demand for skilled tradespeople like electricians and HVAC technicians in India, leading to higher wages and a "labour flip" where blue-collar salaries outpace entry-level white-collar positions.
AI's rise is creating a surge in demand for skilled trades in India, with electricians up 242% and robotics technicians over 500% in four years. This 'labour flip' sees blue-collar salaries narrowing the gap with entry-level white-collar roles, as infrastructure development and AI backbones drive job growth.
The article explores California's history of "extraction," from the Gold Rush to modern-day exploitation of water and minds. It details the environmental and social costs of industrial agriculture and tech's data centers, highlighting the San Joaquin Valley's water crisis and the political maneuvering over resource management.
SK hynix Inc. expanded its workforce by over 2,000 employees last year, driven by the global AI boom and increased demand for memory chips. This hiring surge contrasts with a broader slowdown in South Korea's job market, where overall manufacturing employment has declined.
In the first quarter, Taiwanese life insurance policy surrenders reached NT$481.5 billion, a NT$70 billion increase year-on-year, largely attributed to funds moving into the booming stock market driven by AI. Savings accounts also saw shifts, with individuals withdrawing from fixed deposits to invest in stocks, pushing securities deposit balances to record highs.
Taiwan's tax revenue saw a significant surge in the first five months of 2026, driven by record stock market turnover and the AI boom. Securities transaction tax revenue alone jumped 167.42% year-on-year, reaching NT$248.7 billion.
Jim Cramer recommends Intel stock, calling it his favorite in the chip sector over Nvidia, citing a Bank of America double upgrade and its crucial role in AI data center buildouts. The upgrade highlights Intel's CPU and contract manufacturing opportunities, with BofA projecting significant server CPU sales growth.
Major cryptocurrencies saw a rebound, with BTC nearing $63k. Concerns about AI token spend are growing as companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta cut back due to costs. Meanwhile, Tether led a $1.4B round for robotics firm NEURA, and Mastercard launched AI Agent payments with Coinbase and Ripple.
Wuhan's burgeoning AI industry is creating a surge in new job opportunities, particularly for young people. From humanoid robot trainers to AI comic creators, the sector is rapidly expanding, supported by government initiatives like free office space and interest-free loans for startups.
AI boom and favorable tax laws have dramatically increased billionaire wealth in the US, with a few tech giants capturing trillions. This surge exacerbates wealth inequality, shrinking workers' share of economic gains and concentrating power in "superstar firms."
Kioxia Holdings and Fujikura, both symbolic "main stocks" of Japan's AI market, achieved record profits in FY2026 due to the AI data center investment boom. However, their stock prices have diverged significantly, with Kioxia's market capitalization soaring past Toyota's, while Fujikura's stock plummeted by nearly half from its all-time high shortly after announcing record profits.
TSMC CFO Wendell Huang acknowledged rising costs due to inflation but denied plans for sudden, drastic price hikes. He stated that any increases would reflect the company's technological leadership and manufacturing excellence. Huang also addressed the AI boom, denying it's a bubble, and explained global expansion is driven by customer demand, not geopolitical pressure.
Bitcoin's recent drop below $60,000 triggered nearly $10 billion in futures liquidations, exposing the impact of leverage in the crypto market. Analysts suggest capital is rotating towards AI and private tech deals, diverting attention and liquidity from Bitcoin.
Donald Trump's administration prioritizes AI growth over regulation, evidenced by executive orders and discussions of government stakes in AI firms. Meanwhile, Anthropic advocates for a pause in AI development while pursuing an IPO, raising questions about its safety-first posture.
