{"id":65378,"date":"2026-07-25T00:08:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T04:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-tech-and-trade-south-korean-chip-giants-eye-u-s-alliances-ev-sales-surge-in-malaysia\/65378\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T00:08:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T04:08:21","slug":"global-tech-and-trade-south-korean-chip-giants-eye-u-s-alliances-ev-sales-surge-in-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-tech-and-trade-south-korean-chip-giants-eye-u-s-alliances-ev-sales-surge-in-malaysia\/65378\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Tech and Trade: South Korean Chip Giants Eye U.S. Alliances; EV Sales Surge in Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Samsung Electronics<\/strong> and <strong>SK Hynix<\/strong> are finalizing massive memory chip supply deals and strategic partnerships with <strong>U.S. Big Tech<\/strong> firms, potentially exceeding a <strong>1,375 trillion won<\/strong> ($990 billion) investment scale.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Malaysia<\/strong> has raised its 2026 automotive outlook to <strong>800,000 units<\/strong> as <strong>EV sales more than doubled<\/strong> in the first half of the year, officially surpassing hybrid sales for the first time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Boeing<\/strong> outperformed <strong>Airbus<\/strong> at the <strong>2026 Farnborough Airshow<\/strong>, securing over <strong>170 firm orders<\/strong> in the first three days despite a generally modest year for global aviation orders.<\/li>\n<li>Two former <strong>Volkswagen<\/strong> engineers were arrested on <strong>insider trading<\/strong> charges for allegedly profiting from confidential information regarding the company&#39;s <strong>$5.8 billion joint venture<\/strong> with <strong>Rivian<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>China<\/strong> is aggressively testing new <strong>Central Asian land corridors<\/strong>, including a 7,400km route via Uzbekistan, to bypass vulnerable maritime chokepoints like the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Semiconductors: South Korean Giants Strengthen U.S. Ties<\/h2>\n<p>Samsung Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>) and SK Hynix (<a href=\"\/stock\/000660\">000660<\/a>) are set to sign landmark agreements with leading U.S. technology companies during a high-profile AI summit in Silicon Valley. These deals include long-term memory chip supply contracts and strategic investment partnerships aimed at securing the global AI supply chain. The move follows a massive <strong>$880 billion<\/strong> investment plan unveiled by Seoul to expand chip production and build AI data centers.<\/p>\n<p>SK Hynix (<a href=\"\/stock\/000660\">000660<\/a>), which recently joined the <strong>$1 trillion market value club<\/strong>, is also preparing for a <strong>Nasdaq listing<\/strong> to further capitalize on the AI-driven rally. Presidential officials indicated that the scale of these &quot;mega projects&quot; could eventually exceed the initially projected <strong>4,700 trillion won<\/strong> domestic investment as specific customers and engineering partners are identified.<\/p>\n<h2>Automotive: Malaysia&#39;s EV Pivot and VW Insider Trading Scandal<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA)<\/strong> has revised its 2026 total industry volume (TIV) forecast upward to <strong>800,000 units<\/strong>. This optimism is fueled by a <strong>106% surge<\/strong> in electric vehicle (EV) demand during H1 2026, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) now outselling hybrids. National brands continue to dominate the market, capturing <strong>67% of total sales<\/strong>, supported by strong demand for SUVs and new model introductions.<\/p>\n<p>In the U.S., federal prosecutors arrested two former Volkswagen (<a href=\"\/stock\/VOW3\">VOW3<\/a>) engineers, Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank, for <strong>insider trading<\/strong>. The pair allegedly used confidential knowledge of the <strong>$5.8 billion<\/strong> Volkswagen-Rivian (<a href=\"\/stock\/RIVN\">RIVN<\/a>) joint venture to purchase Rivian stock and options before the public announcement. The illegal trades reportedly netted over <strong>$300,000 in profits<\/strong> after Rivian&#39;s stock jumped <strong>23%<\/strong> on the news.<\/p>\n<h2>Aviation and Trade: Farnborough Results and China&#39;s Land Corridors<\/h2>\n<p>Boeing (<a href=\"\/stock\/BA\">BA<\/a>) emerged as the clear winner of the <strong>2026 Farnborough Airshow<\/strong>, securing a significant lead over its rival Airbus (<a href=\"\/stock\/AIR\">AIR<\/a>). While the overall industry is shifting focus toward <em>manufacturing throughput and supply chain stabilization<\/em>, Boeing&#39;s dominance was highlighted by massive commitments for the <strong>737 MAX<\/strong> and <strong>787 Dreamliner<\/strong> from global leasing giants like <strong>SMBC Aviation Capital<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Simultaneously, <strong>China<\/strong> is diversifying its trade routes to mitigate risks from maritime disruptions. A new multi-modal corridor through <strong>Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan<\/strong> reportedly cuts delivery times to Afghanistan by <strong>two-thirds<\/strong>, taking just 30 days compared to three months by sea. This initiative is part of a broader <strong>$28 billion<\/strong> effort to bypass chokepoints like the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, which currently handles <strong>20% of global oil and gas flows<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>Regional Briefs: Queensland Bird Flu and Japan Residency Rules<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Queensland, Australia<\/strong>, has confirmed its first case of <strong>H5 bird flu<\/strong> after a deceased petrel found on Moreton Island tested positive. While the risk to humans remains low, authorities have increased biosecurity measures for poultry farmers across the state. This detection brings Australia&#39;s total tally to <strong>18 confirmed cases<\/strong> across multiple states.<\/p>\n<p>In <strong>Japan<\/strong>, the government is moving to tighten <strong>permanent residency<\/strong> requirements. New guidelines will explicitly require an <em>annual income level above the average for Japanese citizens<\/em> and include a significant hike in application fees, rising from 10,000 yen to as much as <strong>200,000 yen<\/strong> ($1,236). These changes are part of a broader strategy to prioritize high-skilled foreign professionals over low-income labor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are finalizing massive memory chip supply deals and strategic partnerships with U.S. Big 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