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Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
Asian Markets End Year on AI Optimism as Precious Metals and Currencies Shine 
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Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
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U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
China Manufacturing PMI Rebounds in December, Offering Boost to Economic Growth Outlook 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
TSMC's Q3 Profit Exceeds Expectations Amid Strong AI Demand
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) the world’s largest contract chipmaker, posted stronger-than-expected earnings for the third quarter, driven by booming demand for its advanced chips from the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
Record Q3 Profit Surpasses Estimates
TSMC reported a net profit\ of T$325.26 billion ($10.1 billion) for the quarter ending September 30, surpassing Reuters' estimate of T$300.2 billion. Revenue reached T$759.69 billion, marking a 39% year-on-year increase, thanks to rising sales of its cutting-edge 3-nanometer chips, which contributed 20% to total wafer revenue.
AI Demand Offsets Weak Consumer Electronics Sector
While demand for AI chips surged\, the company faced a 19% quarter-on-quarter drop in revenue from its digital consumer electronics sector, which includes chips for devices like smart TVs and cameras. However, this decline was largely offset by the growth in its high-performance computing (HPC) unit, which serves as a key driver for AI applications.
Key Clients and Industry Trends
TSMC’s major clients include tech giants such as Apple Inc. and NVIDIA Corporation, with the latter being a major buyer of AI chips. The company's robust earnings come amid a broader industry shift, highlighted by a weaker outlook from semiconductor equipment maker ASML, which cited slowing demand in non-AI sectors.
TSMC continues to play a pivotal role in the global chip supply chain, benefiting significantly from the ongoing AI boom.
