Yazılar

Apple Leads Global Tech Rally After Trump Tariff Exemptions

/in /tarafından

Global technology stocks surged Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his proposed 100% tariffs on chips and semiconductors would largely exempt companies manufacturing in, or committed to manufacturing in, the United States.

Apple shares rose 2%, recovering most of their losses since April’s Liberation Day selloff, after Trump confirmed the company will invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. operations — a move that could shield iPhones from potential tariffs. Semiconductor suppliers and Apple partners, including Applied Materials, Texas Instruments, GlobalFoundries, and Broadcom, gained between 1.3% and 5.5%. Other U.S.-listed chipmakers also rallied, with AMD up 3.1% and Nvidia up 1.4%.

European chipmakers joined the rally, with ASML and ASMI rising more than 3% each and BE Semiconductor Industries up 4.7%. J.P. Morgan analysts noted that the proposed 100% tariff would not stack on top of the 15% baseline tariff agreed between the U.S. and EU last week, which includes zero-for-zero tariffs on semiconductor equipment.

Taiwan’s TSMC, which produces chips for most major U.S. tech firms, saw its shares hit an all-time high after gaining nearly 5%, buoyed by investor confidence in AI demand regardless of tariff risk. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both with significant U.S. investments, rose 2.5% and 1.4%, respectively, after confirmation they would not face the 100% tariff.

However, not all markets benefited. The Philippines, where semiconductors account for 70% of electronics exports, warned the tariffs could be “devastating” and saw its stock market close slightly lower. Malaysia also requested clarity from U.S. trade officials on the tariff scope.

Kraken Launches Tokenized U.S. Equities for 24/7 Trading Outside U.S.

/in /tarafından

Kraken, the crypto exchange, announced Thursday it is launching tokenized versions of U.S. stocks, including Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia, allowing investors outside the U.S. to trade equities 24/7 — a step toward bridging traditional finance and blockchain.

The product, called xStocks, provides digital tokens that represent ownership of publicly traded U.S. equities. Investors won’t directly hold the underlying shares, but rather tokens that mirror the stocks’ value, offering flexibility and round-the-clock access typically unavailable in traditional stock markets.

Key Details:

  • Availability: Limited to select markets outside the U.S.

  • Trading hours: Available 24/7

  • Not offered to: U.S. customers

  • Underlying equities: Includes high-profile companies such as Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia

Kraken did not disclose which countries or jurisdictions will have access to xStocks, but the move reflects the growing interest in tokenizing real-world assets.

Why It Matters

Tokenization — issuing blockchain-based digital versions of real assets — is increasingly being seen as a tool to:

  • Expand market access globally

  • Enable fractional ownership and enhanced liquidity

  • Offer trading during non-market hours, especially useful for international investors

“Tokenized securities could radically reshape how retail and global investors access financial markets,” proponents argue.

Earlier this year, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev endorsed tokenization in a Washington Post op-ed, suggesting it could also open access to private markets.

Broader Context

The launch comes as enthusiasm for blockchain intensifies, partly fueled by:

  • Bitcoin’s strong performance

  • Expectations of lighter regulation under U.S. President Donald Trump

  • Growing demand to integrate traditional assets into decentralized finance (DeFi) systems

While tokenized securities are still in their early adoption phase, Kraken’s initiative places it at the forefront of hybrid finance innovation, offering a glimpse into the future of global capital markets.

Ecarx in Talks with Volkswagen to Develop Smart Cars for Europe, US

/in /tarafından

Ecarx, a Chinese digital cockpit system developer, is in discussions with Volkswagen to integrate its advanced technologies into smart cars for developed markets, including Europe and the United States, according to Ecarx’s CEO, Shen Ziyu. The two companies are looking to extend their current partnership, which already includes collaboration in Brazil and India. In these markets, Ecarx’s Antora 1000 digital cockpit system—featuring proprietary chips, voice recognition, and navigation services—powers Volkswagen’s smart car offerings.

The expanded partnership would bring Ecarx’s products into Skoda-branded cars sold in Europe. Shen confirmed discussions about entering the U.S. market, although the current deal with Volkswagen does not yet include this scope. However, Ecarx’s technologies are already present in Volvo and Lotus vehicles in the U.S., as both brands are owned by Geely, the parent company of Ecarx.

A Volkswagen spokesperson clarified that the cooperation with Ecarx is currently limited to providing an infotainment system for internal combustion engine vehicles sold in Brazil and India, with no other technical involvement at this stage. Meanwhile, Skoda declined to comment on the ongoing discussions.

This move highlights growing interest among Western automakers in leveraging Chinese expertise in smart driving technologies. As traditional car sales have been hit by declining demand in China, companies like Volkswagen are turning to Chinese suppliers to stay competitive in the global market. Mercedes-Benz recently made headlines by collaborating with Hesai, a Chinese firm, to equip its vehicles with lidar sensors, marking the first instance of a foreign automaker using Chinese technology for models sold outside China.

Shen emphasized that it took over a year for Volkswagen to choose Ecarx as its smart technology supplier, with other candidates including LG and Samsung from South Korea, as well as Chinese rival Desay SV. He also noted that the development of software for consumer electronics, including semiconductors, is largely still based in Asia, which has contributed to challenges in software development in Europe.

Ecarx, which generates 70% of its revenue from Geely and its affiliated brands, aims to reduce this reliance to under 50% by 2028. The company plans to diversify further by growing its international revenue, with a goal of generating half of its income from overseas by 2030. To support this, Ecarx has been building R&D teams outside of China to mitigate concerns about geopolitical risks tied to Chinese technologies.

Shen also emphasized that China’s competitive cost structure can help strengthen the company’s supply chain globally. The shorter product cycles typically seen in China—lasting just three years—can be extended to 10 or 15 years in international markets, according to Shen.