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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>SoftBank widens its AI bet with a $2B stake in Intel, suffers a 12% dip over two consecutive days.</li>
<li>Nvidia’s dominance has hyperscalers wary of lock-in. With Amazon and Microsoft building their chips, SoftBank’s move lands right as the market searches for alternatives.</li>
<li>Can Son replicate Intel’s historic design-fab alignment in AI, or would execution risk outweigh his ecosystem-diversification logic?</li>
</ul>


SoftBank widens its AI bet with a $2B stake in Intel, suffers a 12% dip over two consecutive days.
Nvidia’s dominance has hyperscalers wary of lock-in. With Amazon and Microsoft building their chips, SoftBank’s move lands right as the market searches for alternatives.
Can Son replicate Intel’s historic design-fab alignment in AI, or would execution risk outweigh his ecosystem-diversification logic?


Masa’s AI Double Down: Masterstroke or Misstep?

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>According to Reuters, the US government may be interested in acquiring equity stakes in Samsung Electronics and TSMC in exchange for CHIPS and Science Act grants.</li>
<li>The US government is exploring ways to take equity stakes in these two Asian tech giants that have been expanding their semiconductor facilities in the United States.</li>
<li>If the US government decides to invest $10 billion each in Samsung Electronics and TSMC, they would represent about 3% and 1% of Samsung Electronics and TSMC's market caps, respectively. </li>
</ul>


According to Reuters, the US government may be interested in acquiring equity stakes in Samsung Electronics and TSMC in exchange for CHIPS and Science Act grants.
The US government is exploring ways to take equity stakes in these two Asian tech giants that have been expanding their semiconductor facilities in the United States.
If the US government decides to invest $10 billion each in Samsung Electronics and TSMC, they would represent about 3% and 1% of Samsung Electronics and TSMC's market caps, respectively. 


US Government May Acquire Equity Stakes in Samsung Electronics and TSMC

Quantitative Researcher, MRM Research

Nico Rosti

Quantitative Researcher

MRM Research

Quantitative Research

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>A quick synoptic look at the tactical setups for the indices, stocks, commodities and bonds we cover, for the week August 18 - August 22.     .XLSX MODEL DATA FILE ATTACHED.
</li>
<li>
OVERBOUGHT at the WEEKLY Close: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apple-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:666:1" rel="noopener">AAPL US</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alphabet-inc-cl-c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11369:1" rel="noopener">GOOG US</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meta-platforms-inc-class-a-facebook" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:665:1" rel="noopener">META US</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225</a>
</li>
<li>
OVERSOLD at the WEEKLY Close: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commonwealth-bank-of-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14:1" rel="noopener">Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/crude-oil" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22869:1" rel="noopener">Crude Oil (CL1 COM COMDTY)</a> </li>
</ul>


A quick synoptic look at the tactical setups for the indices, stocks, commodities and bonds we cover, for the week August 18 - August 22.     .XLSX MODEL DATA FILE ATTACHED.


OVERBOUGHT at the WEEKLY Close: AAPL US , GOOG US , META US , China Mobile (941 HK) , Toyota Motor (7203 JP) , Softbank Group (9984 JP) , Nikkei 225


OVERSOLD at the WEEKLY Close: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU) , Crude Oil (CL1 COM COMDTY) 


Global Markets Tactical Outlook WEEKLY: August 18 – August 22

Head of Research, Krungthai XSpring

Waraporn Wiboonkanarak

Head of Research

A full service Thai brokerage

Krungthai XSpring

Krungthai XSpring is a full service broker. The company provides a wide range of investment services such as Securities Brokerage, Derivative Agent Business, Securities Borrowing and Lending, Securities Trading, Underwriting, Financial Advisory, Wealth Advisory, Private Fund Management and International Markets Securities Trading. 

In terms of credibility, Fitch Ratings has assigned Krunghtai XSpring a long-term rating of AA- and a national short-term rating of F1+ with stable outlook.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>The SET Index today is expected to rebound within a limited range, with the resistance at 1,270/1,280 points and the support at 1,252/1,239 points (200-day EMA).</li><li>External factors are slightly negative after the US July PPI rose more than expected, dampening hopes that the Fed will cut interest rates by 50 bps at its mid-September meeting, though there may be a positive surprise from tonight’s meeting between the US and Ukraine if Ukraine agrees to Russia’s proposal, contrary to market expectations.</li><li>Domestic factors are slightly positive, supported by: i) better-than-expected 2Q25 earnings from Thai listed companies (+8.6%), with 1H25 earnings accounting for 57.5% of full-year estimates, which could lead to upward earnings and target revisions, and ii) the House of Representatives passing the 2026 fiscal budget bill last Friday, while the NESDC signaled a more positive outlook for the second half of the year compared to earlier concerns over US tariff hikes, adding upside to 2025E GDP growth and reducing the risk of contraction if Prime Minister Paetongtarn is found guilty by the court and a new prime minister must be selected on August 29.</li></ul>

The SET Index today is expected to rebound within a limited range, with the resistance at 1,270/1,280 points and the support at 1,252/1,239 points (200-day EMA).External factors are slightly negative after the US July PPI rose more than expected, dampening hopes that the Fed will cut interest rates by 50 bps at its mid-September meeting, though there may be a positive surprise from tonight’s meeting between the US and Ukraine if Ukraine agrees to Russia’s proposal, contrary to market expectations.Domestic factors are slightly positive, supported by: i) better-than-expected 2Q25 earnings from Thai listed companies (+8.6%), with 1H25 earnings accounting for 57.5% of full-year estimates, which could lead to upward earnings and target revisions, and ii) the House of Representatives passing the 2026 fiscal budget bill last Friday, while the NESDC signaled a more positive outlook for the second half of the year compared to earlier concerns over US tariff hikes, adding upside to 2025E GDP growth and reducing the risk of contraction if Prime Minister Paetongtarn is found guilty by the court and a new prime minister must be selected on August 29.

Krungthai XSpring Zoom Eng. August 18, 2025

<ul>
<li>Political scrutiny and perception issues form a tense backdrop ahead of Tan’s Oval Office meeting.</li>
<li>Strategic rifts over investment pace, 14A development, and fab build-outs are at the heart of the discussion.</li>
<li>The meeting’s outcome may hinge on whether Tan can align Intel’s roadmap with Trump’s manufacturing agenda.</li>
</ul>


Political scrutiny and perception issues form a tense backdrop ahead of Tan’s Oval Office meeting.
Strategic rifts over investment pace, 14A development, and fab build-outs are at the heart of the discussion.
The meeting’s outcome may hinge on whether Tan can align Intel’s roadmap with Trump’s manufacturing agenda.


What’s Trump After in Lip-Bu Tan’s Oval Office Meeting?

United States

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related accessories. The Company also offers payment, digital content, cloud and advertising services. Apple Inc.'s customers are primarily in consumer, small & mid-sized business, education, enterprise and government markets worldwide.

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Apple (AAPL US)

Masa’s AI Double Down: Masterstroke or Misstep?

SoftBank invests $2B in Intel for AI, faces stock drop. While the market seems to look for alternatives to Nvidia, Son's strategy is still...

Mint Finance

US Government May Acquire Equity Stakes in Samsung Electronics and TSMC

According to Reuters, the US government may be interested in acquiring equity stakes in Samsung Electronics and TSMC in exchange for CHIPS and...

Douglas Kim

Global Markets Tactical Outlook WEEKLY: August 18 – August 22

Global Tactical setups for the week of August 18-22: Many US and Asia/Pacific stocks are overbought but Asia/Pacific stocks can rally higher.

Nico Rosti

Krungthai XSpring Zoom Eng. August 18, 2025

The SET Index today is expected to rebound within a limited range, with the resistance at 1,270/1,280 points and the support at 1,252/1,239 points...

Krungthai XSpring

What’s Trump After in Lip-Bu Tan’s Oval Office Meeting?

Tensions rise as Intel CEO Tan prepares to meet with Trump, facing strategic differences over investments and manufacturing alignment.

Mint Finance

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Masa’s AI Double Down: Masterstroke or Misstep?

​SoftBank invests $2B in Intel for AI, faces stock drop. While the market seems to look for alternatives to Nvidia, Son's strategy is still...

Mint Finance

US Government May Acquire Equity Stakes in Samsung Electronics and TSMC

According to Reuters, the US government may be interested in acquiring equity stakes in Samsung Electronics and TSMC in exchange for CHIPS and...

Douglas Kim

Global Markets Tactical Outlook WEEKLY: August 18 – August 22

​Global Tactical setups for the week of August 18-22: Many US and Asia/Pacific stocks are overbought but Asia/Pacific stocks can rally higher.

Nico Rosti

Krungthai XSpring Zoom Eng. August 18, 2025

The SET Index today is expected to rebound within a limited range, with the resistance at 1,270/1,280 points and the support at 1,252/1,239 points...

Krungthai XSpring

What’s Trump After in Lip-Bu Tan’s Oval Office Meeting?

​Tensions rise as Intel CEO Tan prepares to meet with Trump, facing strategic differences over investments and manufacturing alignment.

Mint Finance

SoftBank invests $2B in Intel for AI, faces stock drop. While the market seems to look for alternatives to Nvidia, Son's strategy is still...

Global Tactical setups for the week of August 18-22: Many US and Asia/Pacific stocks are overbought but Asia/Pacific stocks can rally higher.

Tensions rise as Intel CEO Tan prepares to meet with Trump, facing strategic differences over investments and manufacturing alignment.