Global gold prices have surged to an all-time high of US$3,500 per ounce, putting significant cost pressure on the semiconductor packaging industry. The gold bumping process—essential for display driver IC (DDI) packaging and highly dependent on gold—has been especially affected by this price spike.
Singapore is investing SGD150 million (US$114.2 million) in a government-led “Enterprise Compute Initiative” to boost enterprise computing capacity and accelerate advanced AI development. This strategic investment reinforces Singapore’s position as a hub for AI deployment, especially when compared to Taiwan’s hardware-heavy ecosystem, which focuses on GPU production and AI server manufacturing.
Texas Instruments reported strong first-quarter results, with revenue of US$4.07 billion, surpassing forecasts, driven by a 13% rise in its Analog segment. The upbeat outlook signals sustained demand in automotive and industrial markets despite tariff-related uncertainties. CEO Haviv Ilan emphasized the company’s focus on reliable chip capacity amid geopolitical risks.