Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. booked a 58% surge in profit, a sign that the Middle East war in its first few weeks did not depress booming AI investment. The main chipmaker to Nvidia Corp. and Apple Inc. reported net income for the March quarter of NT$572.5 billion ($18 billion), versus the average analysts’ projection of NT$542.4 billion. TSMC this month posted a better-than-anticipated ...
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. booked a 58% surge in profit, a sign that the Middle East war in its first few weeks did not depress booming AI investment. The main chipmaker to Nvidia Corp. and Apple Inc. reported net income for the March quarter of NT$572.5 billion ($18 billion), versus the average analysts’ projection of NT$542.4 billion. TSMC this month posted a better-than-anticipated 35% jump in revenue. The results may help quell concerns that a prolonged crisis in the Middle East will dampen demand for power-hungry AI data centers and gadgets like the iPhone. The war has put pressure on global shipping routes and energy prices, and investors are looking for clues as to whether its impact will spread to tech giants’ spending plans. TSMC and its top customers such as Nvidia face increasing skepticism they can keep growing at current rates, despite pledges from Alphabet Inc. , Amazon.com Inc. , Meta Platforms Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to allocate $650 billion for AI expenditures this year. After explosive sales turned Nvidia into the world’s most valuable company and TSMC the biggest company in Asia, investors are seeking assurances that booming AI spending can be maintained. There is also speculation that a prolonged crisis in the Middle East could disrupt supplies of critical chipmaking components and gases such as helium. Equipment supply constraints may also cap growth for the $1 trillion chip industry, as the likes of ASML Holding NV cannot add capacity fast enough to satisfy demand for cutting-edge machines from customers including TSMC. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Extrapolating TSMC’s March sales of NT$415.2 billion shows NT$1.13 trillion was achieved in 1Q (35% year-over-year growth), reinforcing our scenario analysis that AI-led demand for 3- and 5-nm chips is likely to keep 2Q sales growth in the high-single digits sequentially. Yet that strength may still not trigger an increase to the capital-spending budget target, as broad macroeconomic...
(RTTNews) - A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found Live Nation/Ticketmaster liable for harming consumers and the live music industry through anticompetitive conduct. The jury determined that Live Nation overcharged tickets sold to consumers
(RTTNews) - A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found Live Nation/Ticketmaster liable for harming consumers and the live music industry through anticompetitive conduct. The jury determined that Live Nation overcharged tickets sold to consumers
The French government is pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to release the 86-year-old French widow of a military veteran from immigration custody in Louisiana after she was detained earlier this month. (Image credit: Yuki Iwamura)
The French government is pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to release the 86-year-old French widow of a military veteran from immigration custody in Louisiana after she was detained earlier this month. (Image credit: Yuki Iwamura)
India’s liquefied natural gas importers have accelerated purchases from the spot market, taking advantage of a recent dip in prices, as the country looks to ease a supply crunch triggered by the war in the Middle East. Bharat Petroleum Corp. , Gail India Ltd. and Gujarat State Petroleum Corp. bought shipments for delivery between April and June at below $16 per million British thermal units, accor...
India’s liquefied natural gas importers have accelerated purchases from the spot market, taking advantage of a recent dip in prices, as the country looks to ease a supply crunch triggered by the war in the Middle East. Bharat Petroleum Corp. , Gail India Ltd. and Gujarat State Petroleum Corp. bought shipments for delivery between April and June at below $16 per million British thermal units, according to traders with knowledge of the matter. The LNG supplies were purchased via tenders that closed on April 15, said the traders, who asked not to be named because they’re not authorized to speak to media. The purchases mark a turnaround after Indian buyers had earlier limited spot purchases and canceled tenders because offers were too expensive. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and attacks on the world’s largest LNG export plant in Qatar, have disrupted a fifth of the world’s supply of the super-chilled fuel. India is among the hardest-hit consumers, with LNG deliveries down 14% compared with the same time last year on a 30-day moving average, ship data shows. Read More: Asian LNG Imports Plummet to Six-Year Low on Middle East Crisis The latest move comes after spot LNG prices fell to the lowest level in over a month. Prices more than doubled after the war began, rising to roughly $25 per million Btu and forcing Indian buyers to curb purchases and reduce supplies to industrial customers. Still, prices remain about 50% higher than pre-war levels. Indian Oil Corp. canceled a purchase tender that was scheduled to close on April 15, traders said.
Macau’s finance minister has resigned over “personal reasons,” prompting the city’s chief executive to temporarily assume his duties until a new candidate is appointed. The cabinet change took effect on Thursday after China’s State Council approved the removal of Tai Kin-ip from the post of secretary for economy and finance, in accordance with Macau’s Basic Law and the recommendation of Chief Exec...
Macau’s finance minister has resigned over “personal reasons,” prompting the city’s chief executive to temporarily assume his duties until a new candidate is appointed. The cabinet change took effect on Thursday after China’s State Council approved the removal of Tai Kin-ip from the post of secretary for economy and finance, in accordance with Macau’s Basic Law and the recommendation of Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai. Tai, 57, who only assumed the senior role in December 2024, said he had earlier...
TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, posted a 58% jump in first-quarter net profit on Thursday, beating market forecasts and hitting a record, as it benefits from huge appetite globally for its artificial intelligence processors. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, whose customers include Nvidia and Apple, saw January-March net profit rise to T$572.5 billion ($18.2 billion). ...
TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, posted a 58% jump in first-quarter net profit on Thursday, beating market forecasts and hitting a record, as it benefits from huge appetite globally for its artificial intelligence processors. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, whose customers include Nvidia and Apple, saw January-March net profit rise to T$572.5 billion ($18.2 billion). The profit handily beat a T$543.3 billion LSEG SmartEstimate, which is weighted toward forecasts from analysts who are more consistently accurate.
WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - APRIL 6: The United States President Donald Trump holds a Press Conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington DC, United States. Celal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that talks between Israel and Lebanon will begin Thursday, offering few details on the planned...
WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - APRIL 6: The United States President Donald Trump holds a Press Conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington DC, United States. Celal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that talks between Israel and Lebanon will begin Thursday, offering few details on the planned negotiations. In a Truth Social post published just before midnight, Trump said he was "trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon." "It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years," he added. Trump did not specify who would attend or where the talks would take place. The announcement followed a trilateral meeting between U.S., Israeli and Lebanese officials on Tuesday, the first major high-level engagement between Israel and Lebanon since 1993. The three sides agreed to hold "productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon." During the meeting, the U.S. called for talks to go beyond the scope of a 2024 agreement and work towards a comprehensive peace deal. In November 2024, Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after a yearlong conflict between the Jewish state and the Iranian proxy. That conflict was triggered after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The 2024 ceasefire later unraveled when Hezbollah fired into Israel in March, dragging Lebanon into the Iran War. The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Read more U.S.-Iran war news Vance expects U.S. negotiations with Iran on war will be 'positive' White House warned staff against making Iran war bets on prediction markets Trump says Iran 'better stop' if it's charging oil tankers to transit Hormuz strait Hormuz strait oil traffic way down after ceasefire; Hassett says even one tanker is big...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. Economic data inevitably has a shelf life, before it’s overtaken by new numbers. But it’s unusual to be out of date even before it’s released! With the economy stagnating to start the year, we expect a rebound in February. We don’t d...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. Economic data inevitably has a shelf life, before it’s overtaken by new numbers. But it’s unusual to be out of date even before it’s released! With the economy stagnating to start the year, we expect a rebound in February. We don’t discount an upward revision to January GDP either. Our nowcast models point to both a potential upward revision to January and some further upward momentum in February. What do we see for February GDP? We see GDP expanding by 0.2% m-o-m, lifted by broad-based momentum across the services, production and construction sectors. 7am BST: UK GDP report for February 7am 10am BST: Eurozone inflation report for March 1.30pm BST: US weekly jobless 5pm BST: IMF holds debate on the global economy Continue reading...
(RTTNews) - Koninklijke KPN N.V. (KKPNY, KKPNF, KPN.AS), a Dutch telecommunications and IT service provider, on Thursday announced that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders approved the agenda, which included a resolution to declare a total dividend of 0.182 euros per ordin
(RTTNews) - Koninklijke KPN N.V. (KKPNY, KKPNF, KPN.AS), a Dutch telecommunications and IT service provider, on Thursday announced that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders approved the agenda, which included a resolution to declare a total dividend of 0.182 euros per ordin
At least two US-sanctioned, Iran-linked vessels made their way through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Persian Gulf on Thursday, taking what may be a new route from the United Arab Emirates even as a US blockade enters its third day. Shipowners, energy traders and investors have been closely monitoring transits through the strait for indications of how Tehran and Washington are exercising contro...
At least two US-sanctioned, Iran-linked vessels made their way through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Persian Gulf on Thursday, taking what may be a new route from the United Arab Emirates even as a US blockade enters its third day. Shipowners, energy traders and investors have been closely monitoring transits through the strait for indications of how Tehran and Washington are exercising control over one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. Only a handful of vessels have crossed since the US began interdicting traffic — in large part because crews now have to clear not one but two navies to secure safe passage for themselves and their cargo. Liquefied petroleum gas carrier G Summer made its way into the Persian Gulf by passing between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands late on Wednesday afternoon, ship-tracking data show. An empty tanker, it was broadcasting that it has Chinese ownership and crew — a frequent safety measure — while indicating Iraq’s Khor Al Zubair port as its destination. Very-large crude carrier Hong Lu — which, like G Summer, has been blacklisted by Washington over its ties with Iran — went through the islands shortly afterward. The VLCC, which can carry up to two million barrels of crude, isn’t loaded and is now sailing west along Iran’s coastline. It briefly signaled Iraq’s Basrah as a destination, but now indicates it is waiting for orders. G Summer and Hong Lu arrived off Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates, earlier this week, before moving northeast across the Gulf of Oman to the Iranian coastline on Wednesday, then northward into Hormuz — an unusually circuitous path. A few hours before them, bulk carrier Rosalina took the same route, signaling it is heading to an Iranian port with food. A small products tanker, Nobler , crossed eastward in the strait out into the Gulf of Oman a few hours later. It sailed just south of Larak island out of Hormuz, and is indicating Oman’s Sohar as a destination. The vessel had entered the Persian Gulf ...