Taiwan-based magnetic component manufacturer LinkCom announced a stellar first quarter for 2025, with revenues and profits reaching the third-highest level for the period in its history, thanks to an optimized product mix in its magnetic components and wireless charging sectors, which maintained stable capacity utilization.

Trade sanctions and tech blockades have become the preferred weapons of influence in the ongoing geopolitical tug-of-war between the United States and China. Yet for all the volleying, victories have been uneven—and in some cases, surprising.

China’s auto industry is accelerating, driven by soaring demand for electric vehicles (EVs). New figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers report a 9.8% year-over-year increase in new vehicle sales, including exports, reaching 2.59 million units in April. The growth is largely due to a sharp increase in sales of electric and other new-energy vehicles. EVs now account for 49.5% of all new cars sold in China, marking a rise of nearly 10pp from the previous year.

Semiconductor testing interface and equipment provider MPI Corporation delivered a stronger-than-expected first quarter in 2025, driven by robust demand from AI and high-performance computing (HPC) clients. Despite the typical seasonal slowdown, the company reported near-full capacity utilization and double-digit year-over-year growth across key metrics.