Latest news with #SanjeevRana
Malaysian Reserve
24-04-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Nvidia supplier SK Hynix warns of turbulence from US tariffs
SK Hynix Inc. warned of increased volatility in the second half of 2025 despite resilient demand for AI memory chips from big tech providers, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding US tariffs. The Korean company reported a better-than-projected 158% jump in March-quarter operating income, propelled in part by stockpiling ahead of Trump's tariffs. SK Hynix stuck with a forecast for a doubling in demand for the high-bandwidth memory essential to Nvidia Corp.'s AI accelerators, which in turn drive giant data centers built by the likes of Microsoft Corp. and Inc. That SK Hynix is maintaining its HBM shipment growth guidance is encouraging, said Sanjeev Rana, an analyst with CLSA Securities Korea. 'The key question on everyone's mind is, 'How will the tariffs impact tech demand in the later part of the year?'' Companies around the world are bracing for US tariffs and AI chip export curbs, as well as Chinese restrictions on rare metals, to trigger slowdowns in demand. Microsoft has pulled back on data center projects around the world, while analysts said Amazon is pausing some types of data center leases. Those fears have slowed SK Hynix stock momentum, with its shares up just 3% this year. The company's stock price fell 1.7% Thursday afternoon in Seoul, in line with the broader market. It's difficult to assess the impact of US tariffs at this point, Chief Financial Officer Kim Woo-hyun told analysts during an earnings conference call. 'With the expansion of protectionist policies such as tariff regulations and export restrictions, it has become more challenging than ever before to predict future market conditions,' he said. While American clients account for about 60% of the company's revenue, the percentage of direct exports to the US is 'not that high,' with memory shipments for American customers often going to locations outside the US, he said. For the March quarter, SK Hynix reported a better-than-expected operating income of 7.44 trillion won ($5.2 billion) on a 42% rise in revenue. Customers asking for expedited shipments of advanced chips as well as memory used in PCs and smartphones helped the company clock its second-highest quarterly performance, on the heels of record revenue and operating profit in the prior quarter. SK Hynix executives also sought to reassure investors that tariff-driven stockpiling wouldn't lead to excess customer inventory, which could weaken demand and hurt earnings in the second half of the year. Chipmakers are more likely to factor in market uncertainties and temper production plans, limiting the size of possible supply gluts or sudden drops in demand, they said. DeepSeek's low-cost models have also spurred companies and governments around the world to invest more in AI infrastructure, according to the Icheon, South Korea-based company. 'This has led us to believe that there's no doubt that HBM will continue to experience strong long-term growth in demand,' one of the executives said. Strong results enabled SK Hynix to overtake Samsung Electronics Co. as the world's top DRAM vendor for the first time in their decades-long rivalry. Acknowledging the milestone on the call, executives promised to stay ahead of the competition. SK Hynix is actively working with Nvidia on its next-generation HBM4 and is expanding factories focused on high-end DRAM to cement its lead. Its M15X plant, under construction in the southern city of Cheongju, is on track to open in the fourth quarter, the company said. Total investment on the site is projected to be more than 20 trillion won. The company said it's expecting a slight increase in capital expenditure, maintaining its previous stance. SK Hynix said sales of 12-layer HBM3E — a cornerstone of the company's AI memory strategy — are expected to increase to account for more than half of total HBM3E revenues in the second quarter. That chip is currently the most advanced HBM on the market that works alongside Nvidia's graphic processing units. –BLOOMBERG
Japan Times
08-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Samsung shares jump after profit gets boost from new Galaxy S25
Shares in Samsung Electronics jumped after its quarterly profit handily beat expectations on Galaxy S25 smartphone and legacy DRAM sales, easing concerns about the company's ability to weather both U.S. tariffs and chip export curbs. South Korea's largest company was helped by inventory stockpiling by Chinese retailers and manufacturers who hurried to secure supply of electronics in the March quarter before U.S. President Donald Trump unleashed tariffs against trading partners. Demand for servers using the company's high-density DRAM also bolstered profit, although the outlook for both smartphones and artificial intelligence components has become murkier over the last week. Samsung's stock price rose 4% Tuesday morning in Seoul. Shares of rival SK Hynix also rose 5%. Preliminary operating profit came to around 6.6 trillion won ($4.5 billion), level with last year's performance and beating analysts' average projection for 5.74 trillion won. Revenue climbed roughly 10% to 79 trillion won. The company will provide a full financial statement with net income and divisional breakdowns later this month. Focus is now shifting to Samsung's ability to secure higher prices on its chips in coming months, CLSA Securities Korea's Sanjeev Rana said. "This is a good set up for price negotiations with major customers in 2Q and for the rest of the year,' he said. The boost from the smartphones business is a relief for a company grappling with challenges throughout the pivotal high-bandwidth memory (HBM) business. The world's largest memory chip producer has struggled to get Nvidia's final nod for its most advanced HBM, slipping further behind SK Hynix in the lucrative market of chips enabling AI accelerators. Samsung, which has been aggressively trying to catch up to SK Hynix for 18 months, has been unable to supply meaningful volumes of HBM chips to Nvidia. Losses also continue to mount in its contract chipmaking arm. That's left the Korean company more reliant on customers in China who seek products not subject to U.S. export curbs. But that pie is in danger of shrinking as the U.S. tightens restrictions on semiconductor shipments to China. Samsung had previously said it expects strong AI and mobile demand to boost sales of memory for an earnings recovery in the second half of the year. Jun Young-hyun, head of the company's chip business, told shareholders last month that Samsung plans to supply enhanced 12-layer HBM3E as early as the second quarter of this year and aims to get Nvidia's approval for its cutting-edge HBM4 chips for shipments to start in the second half. HBM4 memory is expected to be integrated into Nvidia's upcoming Rubin graphics processing unit architecture. To get Nvidia's signoff, however, Samsung has had to take a step back and first redesign its HBM3E chip, at the risk of falling further behind SK Hynix on the bleeding edge. SK Hynix is aggressively positioning itself as the primary supplier of HBM4 that's paired with Nvidia's advanced graphics processors. The Korean company said it shipped the world's first 12-layer HBM4 samples to major customers ahead of schedule. The bright numbers from Samsung's smartphones business are expected to take a direct hit from Trump's tariffs, however. Many of the company's mobile phones are made in Vietnam, while a portion of its home appliances, including TVs, are produced in Mexico, which largely avoided Trump's broad tariffs. While Samsung is expected to diversify production to countries such as Brazil to lower the impact, "these things take time,' Rana said. He added, however, that Apple produces most of its smartphones in China and is struggling with the same issues, leaving open the possibility that Samsung may gain market share from its U.S. rival. The Suwon-based company was dealt an additional blow from the sudden death of co-CEO Han Jong-hee last month from cardiac arrest. Samsung said last week TM Roh, the head of its mobile business, will temporarily expand his role to also oversee the consumer electronics divisions. Samsung launched new Galaxy S25 smartphones in San Jose, California in January: the S25 starting at $799, a larger S25+ and the top-tier S25 Ultra priced from $1,299 and up. Spanning 6.9 inches in size, the new Ultra model gains the most significant design changes and camera hardware upgrades.
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman is set to host DLIVE 2025: Shaping the future of digital innovation
Muscat: Oman is set to host DLive 2025, the region's premier platform for AI, Blockchain, IoT, Automation, and Digital Transformation. Bringing together visionary leaders, tech pioneers, investors, and government officials, the event will explore cutting-edge innovations driving business success, economic growth, and digital transformation across industries. The event is organised by Muscat Media Group and Gulf Leaders Circle with Times of Oman and Al Shabiba as the media partners and Manzana as the event partner. As part of this transformative event, the DLive Awards 2025 will recognise trailblazing individuals, groundbreaking innovations, and leading organisations shaping the future of technology. These awards honour excellence in digital transformation, automation, fintech, cybersecurity, and beyond, inspiring the next wave of industry advancements. Why DLive Matters With technology at the core of economic progress, DLIVE 2025 serves as a catalyst for innovation, investment, and collaboration. The event will feature: Inspiring Talks & Panels – Learn from top tech and business leaders. Powerful Networking – Connect with key decision-makers, industry experts, and investors. DLIVE Awards – Celebrating innovation and leadership in digital transformation The DLive Awards: Recognising Excellence in Innovation Aligned with Oman's Vision 2040, the DLiveAwards 2025 celebrate the visionaries and innovators shaping a knowledge-based economy through technological advancements. Categories include: AI & Automation Excellence Blockchain & Fintech Innovation Smart Infrastructure & IoT Leadership Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Pioneer E-commerce & Digital Retail Excellence HealthTech & Telemedicine Advancement Sustainability Through Technology Human-Centered AI & Ethics Leadership Robotics & Industry 4.0 Transformation Education & Digital Skills Development The DLive Awards don't just recognize achievements—they inspire the future. By celebrating those driving digital transformation, these awards help accelerate technological progress, economic growth, and industry-wide evolution. For nominations, sponsorship, or event details, contact: Sanjeev Rana – | +968 97221630 Emna Ben Slimane – | +968 94797919 © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times of Oman
04-03-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
DLIVE 2025 & DLIVE Awards: Shaping the future of digital innovation
Muscat: Oman is set to host DLive 2025, the region's premier platform for AI, Blockchain, IoT, Automation, and Digital Transformation. Bringing together visionary leaders, tech pioneers, investors, and government officials, the event will explore cutting-edge innovations driving business success, economic growth, and digital transformation across industries. The event is organised by Muscat Media Group and Gulf Leaders Circle with Times of Oman and Al Shabiba as the media partners and Manzana as the event partner. As part of this transformative event, the DLive Awards 2025 will recognise trailblazing individuals, groundbreaking innovations, and leading organisations shaping the future of technology. These awards honour excellence in digital transformation, automation, fintech, cybersecurity, and beyond, inspiring the next wave of industry advancements. Why DLive Matters With technology at the core of economic progress, DLIVE 2025 serves as a catalyst for innovation, investment, and collaboration. The event will feature: Inspiring Talks & Panels – Learn from top tech and business leaders. Powerful Networking – Connect with key decision-makers, industry experts, and investors. DLIVE Awards – Celebrating innovation and leadership in digital transformation The DLive Awards: Recognising Excellence in Innovation Aligned with Oman's Vision 2040, the DLiveAwards 2025 celebrate the visionaries and innovators shaping a knowledge-based economy through technological advancements. Categories include: AI & Automation Excellence Blockchain & Fintech Innovation Smart Infrastructure & IoT Leadership Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Pioneer E-commerce & Digital Retail Excellence HealthTech & Telemedicine Advancement Sustainability Through Technology Human-Centered AI & Ethics Leadership Robotics & Industry 4.0 Transformation Education & Digital Skills Development The DLive Awards don't just recognize achievements—they inspire the future. By celebrating those driving digital transformation, these awards help accelerate technological progress, economic growth, and industry-wide evolution. For nominations, sponsorship, or event details, contact: Sanjeev Rana – [email protected] | +968 97221630 Emna Ben Slimane – [email protected] | +968 94797919
