Luke Vargas

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chip giant TSMC beats earnings. We'll dive into its results as the sector contends with export restrictions and looming tariffs. Plus, Japan and Italy try to find common ground with the White House on trade and why the dollar's recent slide is becoming the rest of the world's problem.

Chip giant TSMC beats earnings. We'll dive into its results as the sector contends with export restrictions and looming tariffs. Plus, Japan and Italy try to find common ground with the White House on trade and why the dollar's recent slide is becoming the rest of the world's problem.

It's Thursday, April 17th. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal. And here is the AM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today. Global markets are finding their footing a day after a tech stock-fueled rout on the NASDAQ that was triggered by deepening trade restrictions targeting chip industry leaders NVIDIA and AMD.

It's Thursday, April 17th. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal. And here is the AM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today. Global markets are finding their footing a day after a tech stock-fueled rout on the NASDAQ that was triggered by deepening trade restrictions targeting chip industry leaders NVIDIA and AMD.

Should the Chinese market remain off-limits, it could spell challenging times ahead for the biggest names in semiconductors. Though for one of the hottest sectors in recent years, there continues to be ample news to get excited about, including from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.,

Should the Chinese market remain off-limits, it could spell challenging times ahead for the biggest names in semiconductors. Though for one of the hottest sectors in recent years, there continues to be ample news to get excited about, including from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.,

the world's largest contract chipmaker, whose clients include Apple and Nvidia, reported earnings this morning, beating analyst estimates on a 60% jump in profits. Randy Abrams is head of Taiwan research at UBS, and he joins us this morning from Taipei. Randy, what jumped out to you from TSMC's latest update?

the world's largest contract chipmaker, whose clients include Apple and Nvidia, reported earnings this morning, beating analyst estimates on a 60% jump in profits. Randy Abrams is head of Taiwan research at UBS, and he joins us this morning from Taipei. Randy, what jumped out to you from TSMC's latest update?

We've just gotten off the earnings call on a week of rather rocky updates from leading names in the chips industry.

We've just gotten off the earnings call on a week of rather rocky updates from leading names in the chips industry.

What is the sense about the options that might exist for de-risking? TSMC has been out there talking about its investments in the U.S. Do they feel confident what they've done so far is enough to, I don't know, score them an exemption maybe from U.S. tariff action? Or might they need to do more? And maybe should they for other reasons in the future?

What is the sense about the options that might exist for de-risking? TSMC has been out there talking about its investments in the U.S. Do they feel confident what they've done so far is enough to, I don't know, score them an exemption maybe from U.S. tariff action? Or might they need to do more? And maybe should they for other reasons in the future?

Randy, the big story thus far this week has been these export restrictions affecting NVIDIA and AMD, though President Trump has signaled more U.S. tariffs specifically on semiconductors could be coming potentially as soon as this week. That then is the next storyline we should be watching for. What are you expecting? What potential impact should investors be bracing for here?

Randy, the big story thus far this week has been these export restrictions affecting NVIDIA and AMD, though President Trump has signaled more U.S. tariffs specifically on semiconductors could be coming potentially as soon as this week. That then is the next storyline we should be watching for. What are you expecting? What potential impact should investors be bracing for here?

Yet more importance hanging on every word coming out of Washington. Randy Abrams is the head of Taiwan research at UBS and was joining us this morning from Taipei. Randy, thanks so much for being with us on What's News. Okay, thank you, Luke.

Yet more importance hanging on every word coming out of Washington. Randy Abrams is the head of Taiwan research at UBS and was joining us this morning from Taipei. Randy, thanks so much for being with us on What's News. Okay, thank you, Luke.

Coming up, we'll look at the effect a weak dollar is having on the global economy and preview today's White House visit by Europe's Trump whisperer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Maloney. Plus, the rest of the day's news after the break.

Coming up, we'll look at the effect a weak dollar is having on the global economy and preview today's White House visit by Europe's Trump whisperer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Maloney. Plus, the rest of the day's news after the break.