AI | Semiconductors | Commodities, Mint Finance

Raghav Vashisht

AI | Semiconductors | Commodities

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>SOXX rose 1.3% as AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom rallied on China access and upgrades, while Micron and ASML lagged on memory and High-NA concerns.</li>
<li>ASML warned on 2026 as TSMC and Samsung delay High-NA EUV; newer designs instead boost demand for etch players over lithography.</li>
<li>$136M ETF outflows and a 25% drop in options activity show gains remain narrow, with investors waiting on tariffs and real tech catalysts.</li>
</ul>


SOXX rose 1.3% as AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom rallied on China access and upgrades, while Micron and ASML lagged on memory and High-NA concerns.
ASML warned on 2026 as TSMC and Samsung delay High-NA EUV; newer designs instead boost demand for etch players over lithography.
$136M ETF outflows and a 25% drop in options activity show gains remain narrow, with investors waiting on tariffs and real tech catalysts.


[Wafer Watch] Top Chipmakers Drive the Index, Broader Market Stalls

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

Kokusai Electric  / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>KKR is looking to raise approximately US$620m through an accelerated secondary offering for around 13% of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a>'s (KE) stock.</li>
<li>KKR had sold in the IPO and undertaken an extended selldown in July 2024 as well. Hence, this deal is somewhat well flagged.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the placement and run the deal through our ECM framework.</li>
</ul>


KKR is looking to raise approximately US$620m through an accelerated secondary offering for around 13% of Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)'s (KE) stock.
KKR had sold in the IPO and undertaken an extended selldown in July 2024 as well. Hence, this deal is somewhat well flagged.
In this note, we will talk about the placement and run the deal through our ECM framework.


Kokusai Electric Placement - Well Flagged but past Deal Didn’t Do Well

Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vanguard-international-semi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16011:1" rel="noopener">Vanguard Intl Semiconductor (5347 TT)'</a>s 3Q25 outlook shows slight improvement over 2Q25, potentially around +5%.  </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vanguard-international-semi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16011:1" rel="noopener">Vanguard Intl Semiconductor (5347 TT)</a> overall utilization expected to reach around 75–80% in 3Q25, with 0.18µm loading is nearly full.</li>
<li>Progress on Vanguard’s Singapore 12” fab is still in early stages, with the main constraint being the equipment move-in schedule.  </li>
</ul>



Vanguard Intl Semiconductor (5347 TT)'s 3Q25 outlook shows slight improvement over 2Q25, potentially around +5%.  

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor (5347 TT) overall utilization expected to reach around 75–80% in 3Q25, with 0.18µm loading is nearly full.
Progress on Vanguard’s Singapore 12” fab is still in early stages, with the main constraint being the equipment move-in schedule.  


Vanguard (5347.TT): The 3Q25 Outlook Is Expected to Improve by Around 5% QoQ.

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) - ADR / Equity Bottom-Up

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) - ADR

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8587:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US)</a>’s Plan to Build a Plant in Germany Faces Delays.</li>
<li>TSMC’s Fab 21 Project in Phoenix, Arizona: Progress, Challenges, and Future Plans.</li>
<li>There remains uncertainty about whether political factors — such as U.S. President Trump’s tariff threats targeting the semiconductor industry— might impact or even reverse TSMC’s investment decision.</li>
</ul>



Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US)’s Plan to Build a Plant in Germany Faces Delays.
TSMC’s Fab 21 Project in Phoenix, Arizona: Progress, Challenges, and Future Plans.
There remains uncertainty about whether political factors — such as U.S. President Trump’s tariff threats targeting the semiconductor industry— might impact or even reverse TSMC’s investment decision.


TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): Germany Fab Delayed for European Budget Crisis; Fab 21 Project in Arizona.

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>More US restrictions on export of SPE Semi Production Equipment to Chinese firms (CXMT, SMIC, YMTC). The big increase in Chinese spending was done over 2023-24, it's declining in 2025-26. </li>
<li>Chinese domestic SPE vendors are growing fast and gaining share from AMAT, LAM, TEL. ASML is a monopoly below 65nm. KLA is very dominant. Focus on best 2: ASML, KLA.</li>
<li>China’s efforts to grow its own supply chain and equipment makers will continue, AMEC and Naura are the leaders. Consolidation could start. </li>
</ul>


More US restrictions on export of SPE Semi Production Equipment to Chinese firms (CXMT, SMIC, YMTC). The big increase in Chinese spending was done over 2023-24, it's declining in 2025-26. 
Chinese domestic SPE vendors are growing fast and gaining share from AMAT, LAM, TEL. ASML is a monopoly below 65nm. KLA is very dominant. Focus on best 2: ASML, KLA.
China’s efforts to grow its own supply chain and equipment makers will continue, AMEC and Naura are the leaders. Consolidation could start. 


China – US: More US Restrictions on Chinese Firms, but Chinese Equipment Firms Are Growing Fast

United States

Applied Materials, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, and services semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment and related spare parts for the worldwide semiconductor industry.  The Company's customers include semiconductor wafer and integrated circuit manufacturers, flat panel liquid crystal displays, solar photovoltaic cells and modules and other electronic devices manufacturers.

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Applied Materials (AMAT US)

[Wafer Watch] Top Chipmakers Drive the Index, Broader Market Stalls

AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom lead the gains, but falling flows, cautious options bets, and structural shifts in chipmaking leave the rally on...

Mint Finance

Kokusai Electric Placement - Well Flagged but past Deal Didn’t Do Well

KKR is looking to raise approximately US$620m through an accelerated secondary offering for around 13% of Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)'s (KE) stock.

Sumeet Singh

Vanguard (5347.TT): The 3Q25 Outlook Is Expected to Improve by Around 5% QoQ.

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor's 3Q25 outlook sees slight improvement over 2Q25, with utilization expected to reach 75-80% and progress on Singapore...

Patrick Liao

TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): Germany Fab Delayed for European Budget Crisis; Fab 21 Project in Arizona.

TSMC faces delays in building a plant in Germany and uncertainty in investment decisions due to political factors like Trump's tariff threats....

Patrick Liao

China – US: More US Restrictions on Chinese Firms, but Chinese Equipment Firms Are Growing Fast

US to restrict export of Semi Production Equipment to Chinese firms CXMT, SMIC, YMTC. Chinese vendors gaining share from AMAT, LAM, TEL. China...

Nicolas Baratte

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

[Wafer Watch] Top Chipmakers Drive the Index, Broader Market Stalls

AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom lead the gains, but falling flows, cautious options bets, and structural shifts in chipmaking leave the rally on...

Mint Finance

Kokusai Electric Placement - Well Flagged but past Deal Didn’t Do Well

KKR is looking to raise approximately US$620m through an accelerated secondary offering for around 13% of Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)'s (KE) stock.

Sumeet Singh

Vanguard (5347.TT): The 3Q25 Outlook Is Expected to Improve by Around 5% QoQ.

​Vanguard Intl Semiconductor's 3Q25 outlook sees slight improvement over 2Q25, with utilization expected to reach 75-80% and progress on Singapore...

Patrick Liao

TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): Germany Fab Delayed for European Budget Crisis; Fab 21 Project in Arizona.

​TSMC faces delays in building a plant in Germany and uncertainty in investment decisions due to political factors like Trump's tariff threats....

Patrick Liao

China – US: More US Restrictions on Chinese Firms, but Chinese Equipment Firms Are Growing Fast

​US to restrict export of Semi Production Equipment to Chinese firms CXMT, SMIC, YMTC. Chinese vendors gaining share from AMAT, LAM, TEL. China...

Nicolas Baratte

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor's 3Q25 outlook sees slight improvement over 2Q25, with utilization expected to reach 75-80% and progress on Singapore...

TSMC faces delays in building a plant in Germany and uncertainty in investment decisions due to political factors like Trump's tariff threats....

US to restrict export of Semi Production Equipment to Chinese firms CXMT, SMIC, YMTC. Chinese vendors gaining share from AMAT, LAM, TEL. China...