In today’s briefing:
- Ohayo Japan | New Tech Highs
- Siltronic To Exit Small Diameter Wafer Market by 2025
- Social Surge
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Ohayo Japan | New Tech Highs
- US stocks closed mixed on Friday with the Nasdaq Composite hitting a new high amidst optimism over a potential reversal in interest rate hikes
- Analysts anticipate a 10% rise in EPS for the Nikkei’s 225 constituents in fiscal 2024, with electronics and precision instruments leading the charge, driven by expected semiconductor demand growth
- ANA Holdings, parent company of All Nippon Airways, announced plans to slash daytime air cargo rates, aligning them with trucking costs, in anticipation of an impending truck driver shortage
Siltronic To Exit Small Diameter Wafer Market by 2025
- Ferrotec’s production of 150mm wafers in China has increased >6x since 2019
- Siltronic’s production of 150mm and smaller wafer diameters is no longer profitable
- China likely now self-sufficient in the supply of 150mm and smaller diameter silicon wafers. Next milestone: 200mm wafers.
Social Surge
- The last week was packed with SPAC activity including deals, terminations, and new IPOs.
- A high-profile SPAC merger was approved by shareholders potentially netting billions to the former president.
- Also, a sustainable plastics company terminates a previously announced deal, and a SPAC plans to take an IoT-focused firm public.