TSMC, Why Rush the Japan Factory? [3-Minute Brief]

[3-Min Brief 3-Second Summary]
① IPO Market Robot Stocks Lined Up for Listing
② Semiconductor Production Down 8.6% in First Month of New Year
③ Non-Covered Medical Expenses Swelling Like a Snowball

MARKET INDEX

- US New York Stock Market closed all down
- Bitcoin surpassed $66,000, related stocks surged
- Commercial building transactions increased for 4 consecutive months

Top3 NEWS

■ "Please reduce loan interest rates"... Half of the secondary financial institutions reject

- About half of the requests for interest rate cuts in the secondary financial sector were rejected
- Acceptance rate of 59 savings banks is 37.75%
- The higher the proportion of low-credit borrowers, the lower the acceptance rate

■ IPO market, robot invasion... lined up for listing

- KNR System attracted 8 trillion won in public offering subscription
- Angel Robotics to conduct demand forecasting from the 6th
- Growing expectations that AI will improve robot technology

■ Industrial production rose 0.4% in the first month of the new year... but semiconductors fell 8.6%

- Industrial production in the first month of the new year supported by construction and service industries
- However, semiconductor production declined, causing sluggish manufacturing and facility investment
- Statistics Korea: "The index itself is not low... base effect from the previous month"

Graphic News: Non-reimbursable burden snowballing

- Government pushes to ban mixed treatment of 'non-severe excessive non-reimbursable services'
- "Need to clarify unclear boundaries between reimbursable and non-reimbursable parts"
- Emphasizes institutional consistency across health insurance policies

the Chart: Why TSMC is rushing its Japan factory... 'Volcanic bedrock water'

- TSMC to start construction of its second Japan plant within the year... an unusual speed race

- Strategic move to quickly secure Kumamoto's 'volcanic bedrock water'
- 'Ultrapure water' needed for semiconductor manufacturing... abundant in Kumamoto

Money-making Law

■ "Legal disputes in the game industry expected to increase"

- Government-level high-intensity regulations and intellectual property disputes spreading
- Large law firms forming specialized teams such as game centers
- Legal issues expected to rise with the introduction of new technologies
☞Read article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2024030414392989506

■ Apartment sale proceeds gifted before mother's death... "Inheritance tax imposition is justified"

- Claimed "Only borrowed mother's name... actual owner is self" but lost the case
- Mother gifted apartment sale proceeds to children and grandchildren before death
- Court: "Unless special circumstances, real estate presumed owned by children"
☞Read article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2024030414410899749

■ Supreme Court rules secret filming of minors in restrooms as "sexual exploitation material" under the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles

- Secret filming of minors in restrooms qualifies as 'production of sexual exploitation material' under the Act
- Appellate court ruled videos presumed to be minors are not sexual exploitation material
- Supreme Court: "Secret filming of minors is obscene material even without sexual acts"
☞Read article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2024030414442720417

※ 'Money-making Law', a content partnership corner between Asia Economy and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Term in the News: "The end of an era in the US" - Republican elder 'McConnell' announces resignation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

- Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader in the US
- Announced he will resign before and after the presidential election
- Relationship with former President Trump seems to have played a role

Today's Key Schedule

○ Domestic
- 08:00 Q4 GDP
- 5th KOSDAQ Osang Healthcare subscription, public offering price 20,000 won
- 5th KOSDAQ Hana 31 SPAC listing, public offering price 2,000 won
- 5th KOSDAQ BNK 2nd SPAC listing, public offering price 2,000 won


- Incheon e-Pyeonhansesang Geomdan Ecovista (AA29)
- Chungbuk Hillstate Eoullim Cheongju Sajik
- Seoul SI Palace Olympic Park
- Gyeongnam Sammun Signature Welga
- Gwangju Bongsan Park Cheomdan Jeil Punggyeongchae
- Busan The Sharp Geumjeong Weverse City
- Busan Naengjeong Station Vista Dongwon (1st phase)
- Seoul Gyeonghuigung Yubora

○ Overseas
- 08:30 Japan February Consumer Price Index
- 09:01 UK February Retail Consortium Retail Sales
- 10:45 China Caixin February Services Purchasing Managers Index
- 12:35 Japan 10-year JGB bond auction
- 18:00 Eurozone February Composite Purchasing Managers Index
- 18:30 UK February Composite Purchasing Managers Index

- 23:45 US February Services Purchasing Managers Index

◇ Lunch & Commute Weather

○ Lowest temperature 3℃(▲6℃) ｜ Highest temperature: 12℃(▲1℃)
○ Precipitation probability morning 30%｜afternoon 60%
○ Fine dust morning moderate｜afternoon moderate

OK in 3 minutes, essential time-efficient economic news. Published daily at 8 AM.