Stock Markets
Chip stocks shed $480 billion on China trade fears, Trump’s Taiwan comments
By Arsheeya Bajwa
(Reuters) -Wall Street’s semiconductor index lost over $480 billion in stock market value on Wednesday and headed for its worst session since 2022 after a report said Washington was mulling tighter curbs on exports of advanced semiconductor technology to China.
Remarks from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump saying key production hub Taiwan should pay the U.S. for its defense deepened selling in chip stocks.
The U.S. has told allies it is considering using the most severe trade curbs available if companies continue giving Beijing access to advanced semiconductor technology, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.
U.S.-listed shares of Dutch chipmaking equipment provider ASML Holding (AS:) slumped 11% following the report even though it beat second-quarter profit estimates.
AI heavyweight Nvidia (NASDAQ:) fell almost 7%, losing more than $200 billion in market capitalization.
Smaller rival AMD (NASDAQ:) dropped 8%. Qualcomm (NASDAQ:), Micron (NASDAQ:), Broadcom (NASDAQ:) and Arm were all down more than 5%.
However, companies with chip manufacturing operations in the U.S. gained, with Intel (NASDAQ:), GlobalFoundries (NASDAQ:) and Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:) up between 0.3% and 8.5%. Some analysts believe Intel could benefit from the geopolitical tensions as it is building several plants in the country.
“Market reactions are likely short-lived because the fundamental factors driving these markets haven’t changed. Yes, U.S. restrictions on shipments to China will likely increase somewhat – regardless of the U.S. election outcome – but they’ve already been in place for a while,” said Bob O’Donnell, chief analyst at TECHnalysis Research.
The Biden administration has moved aggressively to curb Chinese access to cutting-edge chip technology, including sweeping restrictions issued in October to limit exports of AI processors designed by firms including Nvidia.
The curbs have dented U.S. chipmakers’ sales to China. Nvidia’s revenue from China stood at about 18% of its total revenue in the quarter ended April 28, compared with 66% in the year-ago period.
Former U.S. President Trump told Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan should pay the U.S. for its defense as it does not give the country anything. That sent U.S.-listed shares of Taiwan’s TSMC – the world’s largest contract chip maker – down 6%.
Taiwan plays an outsized role in the global chip supply chain and analysts have warned that any conflict over the island may shatter the global economy.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor index was down more than 5% in afternoon trading, on track for its biggest one-day percentage decline since October 2022.
The index still remains up 32% for 2024, outperforming the ‘s 17% gain, thanks to the AI boom.
INTEL COULD BENEFIT
Intel has been investing heavily to restore the manufacturing edge it lost to TSMC. It is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of the U.S. Chips Act signed by President Joe Biden in August 2022 with $52.7 billion in subsidies.
Several policy experts said Washington’s focus on semiconductors will likely continue, even if Trump returns to power, with potentially more curbs on exports to China and support for domestic chipmakers such as Intel.
But they warned questions remain over Intel’s ability to revitalize its manufacturing business, with the company’s foundry segment recording an operating loss of $2.47 billion for the quarter ended March 30.
“It’s likely President Trump would not only continue export restrictions, but strengthen them,” said Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council.
“He initiated many semiconductor export controls during his first administration, including the powerful ‘foreign direct product rule’ that limited foreign parties from enabling Huawei’s access to semiconductors.”
Stock Markets
Billionaire hedge fund manager Loeb shifts portfolio, eyes possible Republican U.S. election wins
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Billionaire investor Daniel Loeb adjusted his portfolio to capture a potential boom in corporate activity after the Nov. 5 U.S. election where he expects the Republican Party will chalk up wins.
Loeb believes the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, is more likely to win the White House and that his party’s policies could help boost financial markets.
“The likelihood of a Republican victory in the White House has increased, which would have a positive impact on certain sectors and the market overall,” Loeb wrote to investors in his hedge fund Third Point on Thursday. Reuters obtained a copy of the letter.
Third Point has made stock and option purchases and increased positions that “could benefit from such a scenario” while also shifting the “portfolio away from companies that will not,” the letter said. He did not elaborate on what trades the firm has been making.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll this week found that Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris held a marginal lead of three percentage points over Trump as the two stayed locked in a tight race.
Even if Trump loses, Loeb expects the Republican Party will establish a majority in the U.S. Senate which he expects can limit the “economic downside of a “Blue Sweep” by the Democratic party.
Many large investors have expressed concern about the Democrats’ economic and fiscal proposals and Loeb wrote that the party’s plans could result in “crushing taxes,” and “stifling regulations” that could hurt growth.
Wall Street has long held out for a rebound in mergers and acquisitions activity and Loeb wrote that fewer regulations and the elimination of the current administration’s “activist antitrust stance” will “unleash productivity and a wave of corporate activity.”
Since January, Loeb’s flagship fund has returned roughly 14% with the broader stock market index gaining about 23.6%.
Turning to the broader economy, Loeb said that interest rates still need to come down, at a time there is no evidence of a looming recession and as inflation is slowing.
But he also thinks markets should remain underpinned by healthy consumer spending and active levels of individual investing.
In a robust display of market confidence, New York Mortgage (NASDAQ:) Trust Inc Preferred (NYMTM) stock has soared to a 52-week high, reaching a price level of $24.55. This milestone underscores a significant period of growth for the company, which has witnessed an impressive 1-year change with an increase of 13.71%. Investors have shown increased interest in NYMTM, rallying behind the stock as it climbs to new heights, reflecting a strong performance in the face of market dynamics. The 52-week high serves as a testament to the company’s resilience and the positive sentiment surrounding its financial prospects.
InvestingPro Insights
New York Mortgage Trust Inc Preferred (NYMTM) has reached a significant milestone with its stock price hitting a 52-week high. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the company’s current financial landscape. According to InvestingPro data, NYMTM boasts a substantial dividend yield of 8.07%, which aligns with one of the InvestingPro Tips highlighting that the company “pays a significant dividend to shareholders.” This attractive yield may be a key factor driving investor interest and contributing to the stock’s recent performance.
Despite the stock’s strong showing, it’s important to note that NYMTM faces some challenges. The company’s revenue for the last twelve months stands at $151.99 million, with a concerning operating income margin of -32.06%. This negative margin correlates with another InvestingPro Tip indicating that “analysts do not anticipate the company will be profitable this year.”
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 7 additional tips that could provide valuable insights into NYMTM’s financial health and future prospects. These additional tips could be particularly useful for understanding the stock’s potential trajectory beyond its current 52-week high.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
In a recent transaction, Jill Bourland, a director at Isabella Bank Corp (OTC:ISBA), acquired additional shares of the company’s common stock. The transaction, dated October 16, 2024, involved the purchase of 9.5238 shares at a price of $21 per share, totaling approximately $199.
Following this acquisition, Bourland’s total direct ownership in Isabella Bank increased to 4,872.5363 shares. This figure includes shares acquired through the company’s quarterly dividend reinvestment program, as noted in the filing.
Isabella Bank Corp, headquartered in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, operates as a state commercial bank. The bank continues to focus on providing financial services to its local community and beyond.
In other recent news, Isabella Bank Corp revealed a potential loss of around $1.6 million due to negative balances in deposit accounts linked to a single customer. The total exposure to this customer, including loans and lines of credit, amounts to $4.0 million. Piper Sandler maintained a Neutral rating on the bank’s shares following this disclosure. The bank also declared a third-quarter cash dividend of $0.28 per common share. In addition, Piper Sandler raised its price target for Isabella Bank from $20.00 to $22.00 and increased its earnings per share estimates for 2024 and 2025 to $1.80 and $2.10, respectively. These recent developments underscore the bank’s commitment to enhancing shareholder value and its resilience in navigating challenging situations.
InvestingPro Insights
As Jill Bourland increases her stake in Isabella Bank Corp (OTC:ISBA), investors may find additional context in the company’s financial metrics and market performance. According to InvestingPro data, Isabella Bank currently boasts a market capitalization of $158.11 million and trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.81, suggesting a potentially attractive valuation relative to earnings.
The bank’s dividend policy stands out as a key strength. An InvestingPro Tip highlights that Isabella Bank has maintained dividend payments for 17 consecutive years, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns. This is further supported by the current dividend yield of 5.27%, which may be particularly appealing to income-focused investors in the current market environment.
Despite a challenging economic backdrop, Isabella Bank remains profitable, with an operating income margin of 26.1% for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024. However, another InvestingPro Tip indicates that net income is expected to drop this year, which investors should monitor closely.
It’s worth noting that Isabella Bank’s stock is trading near its 52-week high, with the current price at 95.51% of that peak. This performance aligns with the company’s recent positive price returns, including a 20.91% total return over the past six months.
For investors seeking a deeper understanding of Isabella Bank’s financial health and market position, InvestingPro offers additional insights with over 10 more tips available for this stock.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
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