LightShed Partners co-founder Rich Greenfield remains convinced that TikTok will continue to operate in the United States and that too under the ownership of China-based ByteDance.

His comment follows an announcement from the Biden Administration that it doesn’t plan on enforcing the ban on TikTok that was originally due to go into effect on Sunday – leaving the matter of enforcement to the incoming government of Donald Trump.

And recent developments have made it clear that Trump “likes TikTok and he’s going to save it,” Greenfield said in an interview with CNBC on Friday.

What could Trump do to save TikTok?

Rich Greenfield expects Donald Trump to invoke Article 2 which states “In international or foreign affairs, the president’s powers supersede Congress.”

The President-elect will designate TikTok a foreign affair to “put an executive order, saying this [congressional ban] does not apply,” he added this morning on “Squawk Box”.

Note that Shou Zi Chew – the chief executive of TikTok has already disclosed plans to attend Trump’s inauguration.

On Monday, he’ll be sitting on the dais with the President-elect.

This suggests Donald Trump “wants TikTok to exist, he uses it very aggressively,” according to LightShed’s Greenfield.

Is TikTok a national security threat?

Speaking with Andrew Ross Sorkin of CNBC today, the co-founder of LightShed Partners also argued that TikTok may not be a national security risk after all – at least for now.

He based his view on the government’s filings that suggest there’s no evidence of “manipulation of the algorithm or spying on US citizens to date by China.”

Despite broader security concerns, Americans seem to be in the same league as Donald Trump.

The renowned platform for short videos has well over 100 million monthly active users in the United States – a number that’s expected to surpass 120 million by 2027.  

TikTok generates billions of dollars worth of revenue every year from the US as well.

Who could benefit if TikTok is banned?

On the flip side, if TikTok does indeed shut down in the US – a bunch of other social platforms could meaningfully benefit over the long term, as per Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak.

These include Pinterest, Snap, Reddit, and even the tech titans like Meta Platforms and Alphabet Inc.

The Facebook owner could see up to a 60 cents boost to its per-share earnings in 2026 and YouTube could benefit from as much as $750 million in incremental revenue for every 10% of TikTok’s US time either of them captures.

Morgan Stanley expects advertising software companies AppLovin and Trade Desk to benefit from a US ban on TikTok as well. Shares of the former have already soared more than 700% since the start of 2024.

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Donald Trump, the US president-elect, announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he had a “very good” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his return to the White House next week.

The conversation, which marked the first interaction between the two leaders since Trump’s departure after his first term, focused on critical global issues, including trade, fentanyl, and the controversial TikTok app.

“I just spoke to Chairman Xi Jinping of China,” Trump wrote.

It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately.

He further emphasized the potential for both nations to work collaboratively, stating, “President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!”

Trump-Xi phone call: a promising tone

According to a readout from China’s Foreign Ministry, Xi echoed Trump’s optimism, stating that both leaders “attach great importance to mutual interactions” and are looking forward to a positive start in US-China relations during Trump’s second term.

However, the call comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Beijing, as geopolitical and economic challenges continue to strain ties between the two superpowers.

Just hours after the call, the US Supreme Court cleared the path for a ban on TikTok, the China-based app owned by ByteDance, to take effect on Sunday.

The ruling rejected TikTok’s appeal, which argued that the ban violated the First Amendment.

The app’s future now hangs in the balance, adding another layer of complexity to US-China relations.

Xi to skip Trump’s inauguration

While Xi conveyed his congratulations to Trump following his reelection in November, he has opted to skip the inauguration ceremony in Washington, DC, scheduled for Monday.

Instead, Vice President Han Zheng will represent China at the event.

This decision underscores Beijing’s cautious approach to navigating its relationship with the Trump administration.

Xi’s earlier congratulatory message to Trump included a reminder of the mutual benefits of cooperation and the dangers of confrontation.

“The US and China stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation,” Xi said, expressing hope for a constructive relationship during Trump’s second term.

Trump-Xi phone call: trade, tariffs, and Taiwan

While Trump expressed a willingness to cooperate with China, his rhetoric on certain issues remains firm.

As a candidate, Trump vowed to impose steep tariffs on Chinese goods, a stance that shaped his first term.

Now, as president-elect, he has reiterated his commitment to holding Beijing accountable, proposing a 10% increase in tariffs until China takes significant steps to curb the flow of illegal drugs, including fentanyl, into the US.

The Taiwan issue also emerged as a point of contention. During the call, Xi reiterated Beijing’s position on Taiwan, labeling it a “breakaway territory” and stressing that unification with the mainland remains a priority.

While Trump was seen as a staunch supporter of Taiwan during his first term, his rhetoric has since evolved.

Recently, he criticized Taiwan for allegedly “stealing” American chip manufacturing jobs and suggested that the island nation should contribute more to US military protection.

Trump’s cabinet of China hawks

Trump’s cabinet picks signal a potentially tougher stance on China.

Prominent China critics, including Senator Marco Rubio, nominated for secretary of state, and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, tapped for defense secretary, indicate a team prepared to confront Beijing on various fronts.

Rubio, who is currently sanctioned by Beijing, has consistently called for stricter measures against China, while Hegseth has warned of China’s ambition to surpass the US in global dominance.

Role of Elon Musk in US-China relations

Amid this backdrop, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, remains a unique factor in US-China relations.

With Tesla manufacturing more than half of its vehicles in China, Musk has maintained a cooperative relationship with Beijing.

His comments advocating for a “win-win” dynamic between the US and China sharply contrast Trump’s zero-sum approach.

Musk’s influence and frequent meetings with Chinese officials add an intriguing dimension to the evolving bilateral relationship.

As Trump prepares for his inauguration, the phone call with Xi underscores the delicate balance between collaboration and contention in US-China relations.

While both leaders expressed optimism, deep-rooted differences on issues like trade, technology, and Taiwan loom large.

The coming weeks will test whether this “very good” phone call translates into meaningful progress or sets the stage for further tensions.

This pivotal conversation has undoubtedly captured global attention, with its implications stretching across diplomacy, trade, and technology.

As the world watches, the outcomes of Trump’s second term will shape the future trajectory of US-China relations.

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SemiAnalysis expert Myron Xie says Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is “the only game in town for AI chips.”

TSMC is currently the leading and most reliable supplier of advanced artificial intelligence chips – and counts Nvidia as well as the hyperscalers committed to building their chips as customers.

This makes the New York-listed TSM stock one of the best buys to play the AI sector – perhaps even more so than Nvidia, according to Xie.

TSMC expects continued rapid growth in AI revenue

TSMC has a solid reputation in terms of quality and innovation. Its cutting-edge technology, particularly the 3nm and 5nm chips, is in high demand for AI applications.  

Shares of the Taiwanese firm have already close to tripled since the start of 2024. Still, Myron Xie remains bullish on TSM stock for “its leadership in AI technologies.”

Taiwan Semiconductor ended last year with a whopping 200% increase in AI revenue.

But a slowdown is likely not in sight, considering the management expects the company’s AI business to grow by 40% annually over the next five years.

TSM shares currently pay a dividend yield of 1.15% which makes them all the more attractive to own for income investors.

Warren Buffett was once invested in TSM stock

The SemiAnalysis expert even sees TSMC coming in ahead of its bold forecast on AI revenue as its management is known to be conservative.

The NYSE-listed giant could, for example, see a sharper recovery in the smartphone space – which could result in an incremental further boost to its top line, he argued on CNBC’s “Capital Connection” on Friday.

Earlier this week, Taiwan Semiconductor guided for up to $25.8 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2025 which translates to about a 37% increase on a year-over-year basis.

Note that the legendary investor Warren Buffett once dubbed TSMC one of the best-managed companies in the world. He, however, sold TSM stock due to geopolitical concerns in 2023.

TSMC is insulated from US chip export restrictions

The Biden administration has recently announced new regulations to limit the export of AI chips to select countries, including China.

Still, Myron Xie of SemiAnalysis is convinced the impact of such restrictions on TSMC’s revenue will likely be small as “there’s virtually little revenue associated with illegal schemes designed to get around these export controls.”

Late last year, Taiwan Semiconductor was reported focusing on accelerating its overseas expansion.

By the end of 2025, TSMC wants to set up 10 new factories, including one that is currently under construction.

Wall Street seems to agree with Xie as well.

Analysts currently have a consensus “buy” rating on TSM stock and see an upside in it to $246 on average which indicates potential for another 15% return over the next 12 months.

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Codelco, Chile’s state-owned copper behemoth and the world’s largest copper producer, is preparing for enormous expansion by considering joint ventures with partners such as Saudi Arabia.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Chairman Maximo Pacheco stated that the business plans to increase copper production to around 1.4 million metric tons by 2025. This projection indicates an increase of around 70,000 tons over current output levels.

Pacheco highlighted his excitement about the upcoming growth and stated that Codelco is beginning to implement the strategic initiatives necessary to increase production capacity and efficiency.

He said that they are committed to preserving and improving their production to meet global demand.

The chairman stated that improving efficiency and output is critical for Codelco and the entire mining industry, especially given the global shift toward renewable energy and electric transportation.

Codelco-Saudi Arabia talks

The talks are based on Riyadh’s ambition to position itself as a leader in the area of essential minerals, specifically copper and lithium, which are required for the thriving battery production and electric vehicle industries.

Pacheco stated, “There is a clear need on both sides to add value,” emphasizing the potential reciprocal benefits for all parties involved.

He met with the Saudi minister of mining and representatives from Manara Minerals, a joint venture between the Saudi Arabian Mining Company and the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund valued at $925 billion.

According to Pacheco, these agreements include not only financial investments but also the transfer of technologies and the modernization of mining operations.

Saudi Arabia is diversifying its economy

Saudi Arabia, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is diversifying its economy to reduce reliance on oil money.

The kingdom’s policy to focus on essential minerals considers the prospects for economic transformation as well as the path to innovation and sustainability in industries such as renewable energy and electric car production.

Pacheco emphasized that Saudi Arabia is fully prepared to invest in the mining sector to drive overall economic growth.

He cited the kingdom’s expertise in technological advancements—particularly in desalination and resource management—as a major area for collaboration.

The employment of cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence in mining processes is a promising field of research for the two countries.

Global market for copper

The global market for copper and other minerals is rapidly changing due to the pressing needs of climate change and energy resource reorganization.

Pacheco emphasized the urgent need for these negotiations, noting, “The markets move very quickly. So we have to do the same.”

The move to new energy sources is thus driving the energy transformation, allowing Codelco’s potential partners to step in and maintain a steady supply of copper to global markets.

Codelco’s suspected links are being scrutinized, and mining and energy analysts are keeping a close eye on any developments in the coming months.

The findings are expected to have an impact not only on Codelco’s future but also on the broader picture of worldwide collaboration in sustainable resource management.

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Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC) popped as much as 10% on Friday following a SemiAccurate report that a new name is now interested in taking over the US-based semiconductor manufacturer.

The news website added that the mainstream media has not previously indicated that this unnamed potential acquirer is interested in buying INTC.

The news arrives as Intel continues to struggle to sustain its market share against AMD and NVIDIA, both of which have become the go-to options for businesses looking for advanced AI chips.

Despite today’s surge, Intel stock is down more than 50% versus its 52-week high at writing.

Intel acquisition could face hurdles

According to the SemiAccurate report, the unnamed potential acquirer has the resources and intention to buy Intel outright, rather than parts of it only.

The internet media outlet first received the information in a confidential email that it has recently confirmed from a “highly placed source”. So, it’s now nearly certain that the news is authentic.  

Note that the potential acquisition of INTC will likely face numerous hurdles.

Intel continues to be an integral cog in the global semiconductor supply chain.

Therefore, any potential agreement would have to go through intense scrutiny from regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with antitrust laws and maintain market stability.

Amidst challenges, Intel stock remains attractive for income investors as it pays a dividend yield of 2.36% at writing.

Qualcomm no longer wants to buy INTC

Meanwhile, a separate report from Bloomberg suggests Qualcomm Inc is no longer interested in buying Intel.

QCOM was reported in talks with INTC over a potential buyout in September. But the multinational had $13 billion in cash only at the time – versus a much bigger hoard of $50 billion in debt on Intel’s balance sheet.

This may have made it impractical for Qualcomm to take over Intel, as per analysts.

The news arrives only weeks before Intel is scheduled to report its financial results for the fourth quarter.

The consensus is for it to lose 4 cents a share versus earnings of 38 cents per share last year.

Is Intel stock worth buying in 2025?

Intel had its credit rating downgraded at both S&P Global as well as Moody’s in 2024 due to uncertainty surrounding the chipmaker’s profitability.

Analysts at Mizuho also lowered their rating on Intel stock last week to “underweight”.

Their revised price target of $21 no longer suggests a meaningful upside from current levels.

The investment firm downgraded INTC amidst new regulations from the Biden administration that further limit chip exports to certain countries, including China.

If such restrictions continue under the new government, Intel could find it even harder to improve its financials in 2025. Note that INTC was a $70 stock just five years ago.

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