EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
OpenAI Moves to Acquire Neptune as It Expands AI Training Capabilities 
RBA Signals Possible Rate Implications as Inflation Proves More Persistent 
Coupang Apologizes After Massive Data Breach Affecting 33.7 Million Users 
Nexperia Urges China Division to Resume Chip Production as Supply Risks Mount 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Anthropic Reportedly Taps Wilson Sonsini as It Prepares for a Potential 2026 IPO 
Wikipedia Pushes for AI Licensing Deals as Jimmy Wales Calls for Fair Compensation 
Samsung Launches Galaxy Z TriFold to Elevate Its Position in the Foldable Smartphone Market 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Banks Consider $38 Billion Funding Boost for Oracle, Vantage, and OpenAI Expansion 
Intel Boosts Malaysia Operations with Additional RM860 Million Investment 
Japan’s Service Sector Sustains Growth Momentum in November 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
AI-Guided Drones Transform Ukraine’s Battlefield Strategy 
Chinese semiconductor stocks advanced on Monday after Beijing launched investigations into U.S. trade policies, signaling potential support for domestic chipmakers. The probes, announced late last week, focus on whether Washington has discriminated against Chinese firms in its semiconductor trade policies and on alleged dumping of imports such as analog chips used in automobiles, Wi-Fi routers, and hearing aids.
The move boosted investor sentiment, as it could drive Beijing to accelerate incentives for local chip production. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (HK:0981), China’s largest chipmaker by volume, gained 1.4% in Hong Kong trading, while Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd (HK:1347) surged 3.7%. In Shenzhen, NAURA Technology Group Co Ltd (SZ:002371) rose 0.8%, and chip testing equipment maker JCET Group Co Ltd (SS:600584) added 0.4%.
Most chipmakers built on Friday’s rally, though Cambricon Technologies Corp Ltd (SS:688256), a designer of AI chips, slipped 3% after jumping nearly 10% last week.
The investigations come shortly after the U.S. Commerce Department added 32 entities—23 of them Chinese—to its restricted trade list, accusing two firms of supplying sanctioned equipment to SMIC. The development coincided with high-level U.S.-China trade talks on Sunday, where officials also reportedly discussed the future of ByteDance’s TikTok, which faces a potential U.S. ban.
Chinese chip stocks have been rallying since early August, supported by rising scrutiny of U.S. semiconductor exports, especially in artificial intelligence. The sector also gained momentum last week following reports that Chinese tech leaders, including Alibaba Group (HK:9988), were testing locally sourced chips for AI development.
The escalating U.S.-China tech tensions are reinforcing Beijing’s push for semiconductor self-sufficiency, a trend that continues to fuel gains in China’s chipmaking sector.
