Global Chip Stocks Rise on Foxconn Results and Demand for AI Servers
Global semiconductor stocks surged following Foxconn's announcement of record fourth-quarter revenues, which highlighted the ongoing growth in the artificial intelligence sector. Foxconn reported revenues of 2.1 trillion New Taiwan dollars ($63.9 billion), marking a 15% increase from the previous year and setting a record for the company's history. This impressive performance was primarily fueled by a rise in demand for cloud and networking products, including AI servers from chipmakers like Nvidia, although the company noted slight declines in smart consumer electronics sales, including iPhones. In response to Foxconn's results, semiconductor stocks across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. experienced significant gains. TSMC, the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, reached a record high, while South Korean firms SK Hynix and Samsung also enjoyed substantial increases. European companies such as ASML and Infineon saw their shares rise by nearly 6%. In the U.S., chipmakers...