SBI Denies Report on Negotiations with SK Hynix and UMC for Japan Chip Plant

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SBI Holdings (8473.T) has refuted a report from the Nikkan Kogyo newspaper that suggested the company was in talks with South Korea’s SK Hynix (000660.KS) and Taiwan’s UMC (2303.TW) to collaborate on a chip manufacturing plant in Japan’s Miyagi prefecture. A spokesperson for the financial firm clarified on Friday that the report was inaccurate.

According to the Nikkan Kogyo report, which did not specify sources, SBI was purportedly negotiating partnerships with SK Hynix for back-end DRAM processes and UMC for chips intended for the automotive sector. However, SBI has firmly denied these claims, stating that no such discussions are taking place.

Earlier, in September, SBI announced it was dissolving its joint venture with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (6770.TW). The companies had previously been working toward securing government subsidies to build a foundry in northern Japan. Following the dissolution of this partnership, SBI indicated that it would explore potential collaborations with other firms in the semiconductor industry.

Broadcom Shares Surge on Strong AI Chip Demand and Positive Forecast

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Broadcom’s shares surged in after-hours trading on Thursday, jumping 14% following a solid second-quarter forecast that alleviated investor concerns over AI chip demand. The surge came after the company reported better-than-expected revenue and a strong outlook, especially in its AI semiconductor segment. The upbeat forecast contrasts with Marvell Technology’s disappointing outlook earlier in the week, which had spooked the market.

Broadcom expects revenue of approximately $14.90 billion for the second quarter, surpassing analyst estimates of $14.76 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. CEO Hock Tan reassured investors that demand for its custom AI chips is robust, particularly from cloud computing companies seeking alternatives to Nvidia’s expensive processors. Broadcom anticipates second-quarter revenue from its AI semiconductors to reach $4.4 billion, driven by significant investments from hyperscale customers for data center expansion.

Broadcom is increasingly benefiting from the trend of large tech companies moving away from off-the-shelf chips toward custom-made processors to meet the growing complexity of AI tasks. CEO Tan revealed that the company now has four additional hyperscale customers working closely with it to develop custom chips, joining the three existing customers using its AI processors. This growing customer base has contributed to Broadcom’s estimated revenue potential of $60 billion to $90 billion by 2027.

Notably, Broadcom is working with OpenAI to finalize the first custom chip design to reduce its reliance on Nvidia. Analysts like Anshel Sag from Moor Insights & Strategy have noted that Broadcom is positioning itself as a key player for hyperscalers and other companies wanting to control their AI designs and costs by developing their own custom AI accelerators.

In terms of manufacturing, Broadcom is exploring Intel’s most advanced process, 18A, through test wafers. Summit Insights analyst Kinngai Chan highlighted that Broadcom is better positioned than many of its peers due to its diversified exposure to the AI market, with multiple AI-specific customers for its chips.

In its first-quarter earnings report, Broadcom posted revenue of $14.92 billion, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $14.61 billion. The company’s AI revenue saw a remarkable 77% increase, reaching $4.1 billion, driven by the growing adoption of its custom accelerators. Broadcom’s infrastructure software segment also experienced strong growth, with revenue rising by over 47% to $6.70 billion, beating the $6.49 billion anticipated by analysts.

US Investors Shift Focus from Chipmakers to Software Amid AI Investment Evolution

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As the AI investment boom slows, U.S. chip stocks, which were the biggest beneficiaries of last year’s surge, are struggling in 2025. The spotlight has shifted to software companies, which are now seen as the next big play in AI. This shift comes as volatility driven by tariffs and concerns about diminishing demand, coupled with the rise of lower-cost AI models from China’s DeepSeek, have weighed on semiconductor shares.

The shift towards software is being viewed by several analysts as a long-term evolution of the AI investment landscape. According to David Russell, global head of market strategy at TradeStation, there’s been a noticeable “rotation” in investor focus, especially in light of the developments surrounding DeepSeek, the semiconductor outperformance of 2024, and the ongoing restrictions on U.S. chip exports to China. “Investors are looking for the next three-to-five-year stories… those companies that will benefit from what Nvidia has already done,” he added.

So far in 2025, the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index has fallen 5.6%, with Nvidia, a major player in the industry, down nearly 13%. In contrast, several software companies have seen significant gains, with stocks like Atlassian, CrowdStrike Holdings, Palantir Technologies, and Cognizant rising between 7% and 19%. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking software companies have also seen substantial inflows. For example, the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF has attracted over $1.87 billion in 2025, already surpassing last year’s total inflows.

Analysts argue that this shift is a natural progression for AI investments, as the primary use cases for AI technology are in software. Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, emphasized that LPL prefers software stocks over semiconductors, a sentiment shared by Morgan Stanley. “The second stage of the innovation cycle is when people start utilizing products, and that’s when the software companies start getting paid… we’re now starting to see the ascendancy of the software part of the equation,” said Keith Weiss, equity analyst at Morgan Stanley.

This trend is driven by concerns about how long chip stocks can sustain their growth rates, with some investors rethinking the value of these stocks as software companies continue to improve their market position. The rise of DeepSeek’s more affordable chatbot, which competes with expensive direct-to-consumer AI products, is one factor contributing to a more cautious outlook on semiconductors. According to Brian Mulberry, portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management, competition will likely reduce profits for these products, while enterprise software companies may find it easier to monetize new AI technology.

The shift toward software stocks is also influenced by the ongoing Sino-U.S. trade tensions, which have hurt semiconductor companies. Analysts have named companies such as Palantir, Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce as key players in the software space, though their performance has been mixed in 2025. Palantir, which offers AI software to businesses, has seen its stock rally, while Microsoft and Salesforce have struggled, down 4.9% and 12.6%, respectively.

Despite these fluctuations, some investors remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for software companies. While valuations for software giants like Microsoft and Oracle are still considered high—trading at 27 and 23 times forward earnings, respectively—investors like Lisa Shalett, chief investment officer at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, argue that the focus should be on AI applications, not just chips. “We don’t need more Nvidia chips, we need applications,” she said.