Chapter 475 The big event of AMAT

In January this year, Peter Wen, the CEO of ASML, was still very arrogant in front of the media. "Big Xia is unlikely to be able to independently replicate state-of-the-art lithography because ASML relies on relentless innovation and the integration of components that are only available from non-Big Xia suppliers. But I don't mean absolutely impossible , because the laws of physics in Daxia are the same as ours here. Never be so absolute, they will definitely try."

What does it mean that the laws of physics of Daxia are the same as theirs?

It's almost a shame to say that although Daxia is on the same planet as us, their technology is very backward.

But the words are quite harsh, but in the past two years, ASML has recruited people uncharacteristically and frantically behind the scenes.

According to public data only, ASML has added more than 4,000 new employees in 1021 in the Xiayin star calendar. CEO Wen Peter also said that by the end of 1022 in the Xiayin star calendar, the number of employees will increase by nearly 40% compared to two years ago.

From the perspective of industrial layout, even without the sudden emergence of major semiconductor companies such as Kyushu Technology, Xiaxin Technology, and Pudong Microelectronics, the process of transferring the global semiconductor industry to Asia will still remain unchanged.

Ryukyu Province, where TSMC is headquartered, is still ASML's largest market. Last year, 51% of ASML's lithography systems were sent to the local area in the entire quarter, while Korea was the company's second largest market, with 27% in the same period. The lithography system is sent to the local area, followed by Daxia Inland as ASML's third largest market, with 22% of the lithography system shipped to the local area,

North America and Neon accounted for 10% and 1% of ASML's shipments, respectively, and even wiped out their shares to 0 in the fourth quarter of last year.

Because of AMD's siege in the computer cpu field, Intel spent a lot of money in order to maintain its position, and was allowed to order the first next-generation high numerical aperture EUV lithography machine for ASML at the beginning of this year. .

According to official documents, this EUV lithography machine with the highest numerical aperture is expected to be put into use at the end of 1024 in the Xiayin ephemeris at the earliest.

Obviously, the performance of the 12th-generation Core processors this year did not satisfy Intel. AMD's strong offensive and the rise of Daxia Semiconductor made the veteran giant feel the crisis.

It's just that these giants may still be slow to move.

I still remember that on January 5, 1019 in the Xiayin Star Calendar, Pudong Microelectronics held a 28nm lithography press conference, which also officially set off the rise of Daxia Semiconductor's high-end process lithography machines.

And until February 15, 1022, five days after Kyushu Science and Technology announced that it would initiate a lawsuit against Uncle Sam FCC, Pudong Microelectronics held a second-generation SS1MB light source lithography machine capable of producing 5-nanometer chips. conference.

Before Xiaxin Technology boasted about the 5nm process chips, the HK market was very excited, but because there was no official endorsement for this matter, and there was no actual product, the stock of Xiaxin Technology rose, but after a few days started to level off.

However, as soon as the press conference of Pudong Microelectronics was held, and the person in charge said that the lithography machine had been put into use by Xiaxin Technology and Kyushu Technology and other big summer semiconductor companies, the stocks of Xiaxin Technology and Dajiang Storage opened a new round. The round soared.

Semiconductor companies and related agencies in Europe, America, Neon, and Korea are finding fault almost all the time, from patent intellectual property rights to the theft of production technology in the semiconductor industry, to unreasonable competition, former employees violating non-compete agreements, etc., every day. .

But this kind of fault-finding has fallen into the quagmire of legal disputes, and there is no such thing as three or five years without a result.

In the past few years, students of Daxia law and Tiankeng manufacturing majors basically have no worries about employment and salary issues. In addition to the strong demand of domestic companies, the insidious actions of foreign companies are undoubtedly the best employment assist.

In addition, Kyushu's standard industrial software has completely replaced the dominance of foreign industrial software in semiconductors.

Dixon, CEO of the world's leading semiconductor equipment company, US Applied Materials Co., Ltd., said helplessly at the meeting: "Gentlemen and ladies, I'm sorry, we have lost 90% of the orders from Daxia Enterprises. , if we can't come up with better equipment, process solutions and industrial software, perhaps our company's financial and market share this year will suffer an unprecedented blow."

Not to mention the hoarseness of the directors and senior executives, just after the meeting, some trust institutions and financial companies reduced their positions in Applied Materials Inc. and sneaked away, we can see some clues.

It's just that this sneaking-off actually triggered a chain effect. In just one week, the stock price of Applied Materials AMAT fell by more than 7.5%, and it drove the entire sector to "fall endlessly."

In response to the stock market crisis, Dixon, chief executive of Applied Materials, hurriedly held a press conference.

At the meeting, Dixon was on full display, saying: “We are also mindful of broader macroeconomic risks. In this industry downturn cycle, my number one focus is to ensure that the organization is executing on putting Applied Materials in Plans for the best location in the future.

Applied Materials has a long list of projects in high-growth areas such as Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and big data. Although the technology industry is an unstable field, AMAT is backed by the world's top three semiconductor giants, and we have sufficient capital and technical reserves to deal with the barbaric enemies in the East! "

After the meeting, the shares of Applied Materials were bought by mysterious organizations, and the stock price, which had been falling endlessly, started to rise.

But just when everything started to improve, the Wall Street Journal published an article saying "North American High-tech Manufacturing Flees, Asian Chip Industry Rise"

The article first recalls the glorious history of the North American semiconductor industry. For example, thirty years ago, Europe and the United States produced more than three-quarters of the world's semiconductors, but now, their share is less than one-fifth.

In the end, it even predicted: If the situation continues to maintain the current trend, it is expected that the share of Europe and the United States in the chip manufacturing field will further decline in the next few years, and the mainland of Great Xia is expected to become the world's largest chip production place before 1030 in the Xiayin star calendar.

This article has data, arguments, and expert endorsement, which makes many investors who have just held shares of Applied Materials in the United States start to wonder.

There is a very strange phenomenon in Europe and the United States. Due to the strange operations of relevant departments for decades, the public's trust in large companies and big media has already exceeded the trust of relevant departments.

The report published by the mouthpiece of Wall Street, after being reprinted by many TV stations and newspapers, has stirred up huge waves in the hearts of stockholders.

After seeing this report, Dixon, the CEO of Applied Materials, could no longer maintain a calm attitude, and immediately consulted a director with a Wall Street background.

After some twists and turns, he finally got the answer he didn't want.

"Now the stock price of AMAT is not easy to go long, but it is easy to go short. Don't worry, we will maintain the bottom line."

The words of the Wall Street directors, like the whispers of the devil, have been lingering in Dixon's ears for a long time.