TrendForce stated that the two major wafer foundries, TSMC and Samsung Electronics, had increased prices for the most-traded advanced 5/4nm processes used for AI chips. At TSMC, capacity at the 5/4nm, 3nm, and 2nm periods will remain fully utilized, and toll processing prices for these processes have been increased across the board; meanwhile, order volumes for Samsung Foundry's 5/4nm processes also increased significantly, prompting it to issue price hike notices to clients in Q4 2025.

After a strong start, the price of gold slipped twice to around $5,060 during this trading week. Now, it appears that gold prices might manage to stay just above $5,100 heading into the weekend, continuing the persistent sideways movement of the past five weeks.

Apple (AAPL.O) announced it will expand its factory operations in Houston, US, marking the first time future production of the Mac mini will be relocated to the US. The company will also scale up advanced artificial intelligence server production at the facility and provide hands-on training at its new advanced manufacturing center later this year. Apple's operations in Houston will create thousands of jobs. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that Apple is firmly committed to the future of US manufacturing and is proud to significantly expand its footprint in Houston through the Mac mini production program starting later this year. Additionally, by 2026, Apple is expected to purchase over 100 million advanced chips from TSMC’s Arizona facility, representing a significant increase compared to 2025.

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According to the Financial Times, former President Trump is expected to exempt companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from impending tariffs on chips, as these companies are racing to build data centers that power the AI boom. Informed sources reveal that the US Department of Commerce plans to provide tariff exemptions for US hyperscale data center operators, which will be linked to TSMC's investment commitments. This exemption plan highlights President Trump's determination to impose tariffs on chips and incentivize domestic chip manufacturing in the US, while also offering some relief to companies heavily reliant on imported semiconductors that drive the rapid development of American artificial intelligence. A government official familiar with the plans cautiously stated that these plans are still subject to change and have not yet been signed by the President.