Trump Signals Upcoming Tariffs on Steel and Semiconductor Chips

/in /tarafından

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to impose tariffs on imports of steel and semiconductor chips in the coming weeks. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump said the initial rates would be lower to give companies time to expand domestic production, followed by higher rates later. Exact tariff percentages were not disclosed.

“I’ll be setting tariffs next week and the week after on steel and on, I would say, chips,” Trump said, adding that he expects companies will choose to manufacture in the U.S. rather than face steep duties.

Trump has previously disrupted global trade with broad tariffs on exports to the United States and sector-specific duties, including on automotive products. In February, he raised steel and aluminum tariffs to 25% and later announced a potential increase to 50% to support domestic manufacturers. Last week, he also indicated a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports, though companies that commit to building U.S. production would be exempt.

The announcement coincided with Apple’s (AAPL.O) news that it will invest an additional $100 billion in the United States, underscoring the administration’s push for domestic manufacturing.

Accenture to Acquire Australian Cybersecurity Firm CyberCX in $650 Million Deal

/in /tarafından

Accenture (ACN.N) announced on Thursday that it will acquire Australian cybersecurity company CyberCX in what represents its largest-ever deal in the sector. The Australian Financial Review reported the transaction is valued at over A$1 billion ($650 million).

The deal highlights the growing demand for advanced cybersecurity services as businesses face increasingly sophisticated digital threats. Australia has seen a series of high-profile cyberattacks, including the 2022 Optus breach that exposed data of up to 10 million users, and a Medibank hack affecting nearly 10 million customers. In July, Qantas Airways also reported a breach of one of its call centres, impacting six million customers.

Melbourne-based CyberCX was created in 2019 through the merger of 12 smaller cybersecurity firms backed by private equity firm BGH Capital, which is selling the company. CyberCX employs around 1,400 staff and operates security operations centres across Australia and New Zealand, with additional offices in London and New York.

The company is led by John Paitaridis, formerly managing director of Optus Business, and Chief Strategy Officer Alastair MacGibbon, who previously served as Australia’s national cybersecurity coordinator. Their experience is notable given Optus’ 2022 data breach that compromised names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and passport and driver’s license information.

Accenture has been actively expanding its security services, completing 20 acquisitions in the sector since 2015, including Brazilian firm Morphus, MNEMO Mexico, and Spain-based Innotec Security. Domestically, Accenture signed a $700 million collaborative agreement with Telstra in February to implement AI capabilities across the telecommunications company.

Applied Materials Shares Drop on Weak China Demand and Tariff Uncertainty

/in /tarafından

Applied Materials (AMAT.O) shares fell roughly 12% in Friday morning trading after the chip-equipment maker issued a disappointing revenue and profit forecast, raising investor concerns about the impact of U.S.-China trade tensions on demand. The decline follows warnings from Dutch rival ASML (ASML.AS), highlighting continued uncertainty over the effects of U.S. tariffs on the semiconductor industry.

CEO Gary Dickerson cited “wide-ranging implications for the semiconductor industry” during a post-earnings call, pointing to lower visibility and heightened uncertainty in the near term due to dynamic policy developments. China, which represented 35% of Applied Materials’ July-quarter sales, has become a key risk as U.S. export restrictions weigh on new equipment orders.

Smaller peer KLA Corp (KLAC.O), which also has a strong presence in China, expects softer demand amid ongoing Sino-U.S. trade tensions, while Deutsche Bank strategists warned that volatility in China is clouding visibility into earnings potential both geopolitically and cyclically.

Applied Materials forecast fourth-quarter revenue of $6.70 billion, plus or minus $500 million, below analysts’ consensus of $7.33 billion. Its projected profit also fell short of expectations. If losses persist, the company could shed over $18 billion from its $151.06 billion market value as of Thursday’s close.

J.P. Morgan analyst Harlan Sur suggested that the slowdown in China reflects timing of spending rather than structural weaknesses. Applied’s stock has risen 1.2% year-to-date, trailing the Nasdaq (.IXIC) up 12.3% and the S&P 500 (.SPX) up 10%.

Shares of other chip-equipment makers, including KLA Corp and Lam Research (LRCX.O), also fell following Applied’s results, down 5.5% and 4.3%, respectively. Applied reported third-quarter revenue of $7.30 billion, up 8% year-on-year and above the $7.22 billion consensus. Its stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 19, lower than ASML’s 26.04, Lam’s 23.56, and KLA’s 26.82.