SK Hynix to Invest $13 Billion in Advanced Chip Packaging Plant as AI Memory Demand Surges 
Taiwan Issues Arrest Warrant for OnePlus CEO Over Alleged Illegal Recruitment Activities 
Samsung Forecasts Strong Q4 Profit on AI-Driven Memory Chip Boom 
Alphabet Stock Poised for Growth as Bank of America Sees Strong AI Momentum Into 2026 
Tesla, EEOC Move Toward Mediation in Racial Harassment Lawsuit 
Saks Global Files for Bankruptcy Protection Amid Mounting Luxury Retail Pressures 
Nvidia Denies Upfront Payment Requirement for H200 AI Chips Amid China Export Scrutiny 
Zhipu AI Launches GLM-Image Model Trained on Huawei Chips, Boosting China’s AI Self-Reliance Drive 
AbbVie Commits $100 Billion to U.S. Investment in Drug Pricing Deal With Trump Administration 
FCC Approves Expansion of SpaceX Starlink Network With 7,500 New Satellites 
EU Orders Elon Musk’s X to Preserve Grok AI Data Amid Probe Into Illegal Content 
Anthropic Launches HIPAA-Compliant Healthcare Tools for Claude AI Amid Growing Competition 
BlueScope Steel Announces A$1 Special Dividend After Asset Sales 
Netflix Plans All-Cash Bid for Warner Bros Discovery Studios Amid Intense Hollywood Takeover Battle 
Ford Targets Level 3 Autonomous Driving by 2028 with New EV Platform and AI Innovations 
SK Hynix Shares Hit Record High as AI Memory Demand Fuels Semiconductor Rally 
Trump Administration Approves Nvidia H200 AI Chip Sales to China Under New Export Rules 
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to benefit from the U.S. government's plan to tighten regulations on Chinese legacy chips. The move aims to prohibit American defense companies from importing semiconductors from China. Securities analysts have predicted this development.
U.S. Department of Commerce Launches Survey
Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its intention to conduct a survey in January. Korea Times reported that the survey will identify how American companies in critical industries source chips from China, specifically those with a size of 28 nanometers or larger.
According to the Korea Herald, The department aims to mitigate national security risks associated with China.
The upcoming measure is seen as a preemptive attempt to prevent Chinese firms from dominating the U.S. semiconductor market. This follows their success in the American steelmaking and solar power sectors.
The Korean government is monitoring the potential impacts of the U.S. restriction on domestic companies. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy stated that they have strengthened cooperation with the U.S. and other major countries, to stabilize the semiconductor supply chain.
Positive Outlook for Samsung and SK
Market observers anticipate that the U.S. restrictions will primarily affect the exports of Chinese chipmakers. On the other hand, Samsung and SK hynix are expected to benefit from increased sales of their stocks of legacy DRAMs and NAND flash chips.
Kim Dong-won, an analyst at KB Securities, predicts that American companies will reduce their reliance on Chinese products to avoid regulatory uncertainties. The forthcoming U.S. measure is believed to target YMTC, CXMT, and SMIC, potentially exempting Chinese Samsung and SK hynix factories.
The forthcoming regulation aims to restrict YMTC's share in the U.S. NAND flash market. This move is expected to contribute to the growth of Samsung and SK's NAND businesses during the second half of next year.
China's foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbing, expressed criticism towards the U.S., accusing it of "weaponizing" trade issues. China urges the U.S. to respect international trade regulations.
Photo: SK Hynix Newsroom
