US Fed holds rates steady as inflation fears persist

Samsung Electronics reported record-breaking third-quarter results for the fourth consecutive quarter in its earnings call transcript. The company's operating profit surged to a record high of 107.4 trillion won, driven by strong demand for memory chips and artificial intelligence-related products. Revenue reached 195.3 trillion won, marking a 14% sequential increase from the previous quarter.

Operating profit improved to 55%, up from 52% in the prior quarter. The semiconductor division was the main driver of Samsung's strong performance, supported by high-bandwidth memory (HBM) sales more than tripling compared to the previous quarter. HBM4 accounted for 60% of total HBM sales, with Samsung's 2027 HBM supply already sold out at agreed target prices.

Currency moves negatively impacted results, with an estimated loss of about 10 trillion won from weaker exchange rates. Despite these challenges, Samsung remains confident in its AI-driven semiconductor momentum, with HBM4E mass production planned for 2027 and growth expected in high-performance DDR5, QLC storage, and server SSDs as AI workloads expand.

The company expects a more difficult environment for the mobile business in 2027, with weaker unit volumes in mid- and low-end segments, while premium demand remains strong.