This is the best time to buy stocks since Trump’s election, says Wells Fargo

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/end-of-easy-but-the-best-time-to-buy-stocks-since-nov-2016-says-wells-fargo-2018-10-26

Ford stock sees biggest increase since 2011 after earnings report

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2018/10/25/ford-stock-increase/1764255002/

Global Semiconductor Sales in September Up 13.8 Percent Year-to-Year
Q3 sales are highest on record, 4.1 percent more than previous quarter, 13.8 percent higher than Q3 of last year

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-semiconductor-sales-in-september-up-13-8-percent-year-to-year-300738812.html

First Quarter 2018 Silicon Wafer Shipments Increase Quarter-Over-Quarter to Record Level
http://www.semi.org/en/first-quarter-2018-silicon-wafer-shipments-increase-quarter-over-quarter-record-level

Sasse says Trump has directed Lighthizer, Kudlow to look into joining TPP

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sasse-says-trump-has-directed-lightizer-kudlow-to-look-into-joining-tpp-2018-04-12?mod=bnbh

China's response is a surprise for some people," said Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics, noting that neither said had yet called for enforcement of the tariffs.

"It's more of a game of brinkmanship, making it clear what the cost would be, in the hopes that both sides can come to agreement and none of these tariffs will come into force," he said.

Beijing's list of 25 percent additional tariffs on U.S. goods covers 106 items with a trade value matching the $50 billion targeted on Washington's list, China's commerce and finance ministries said. The effective date depends on when the U.S. action takes effect.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/china-slaps-tariffs-50-billion-u-s-goods-trade-dispute-n862611

US-China trade war is a 'very low probability,' says top market strategist
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/02/top-market-strategist-us-china-trade-war-is-a-very-low-probability.html

China March Factory Gauge Rebounds as Export Demand Recovers
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-31/china-factory-gauge-jumps-in-march-services-remain-robust

China cuts tax rates for chipmakers amid trade tensions
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-semiconductors-taxbreaks/china-cuts-tax-rates-for-chipmakers-amid-trade-tensions-idUSKBN1H60JM

The United States and China are reportedly engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations to avert a trade war, and the main bargaining chip is semiconductors. When they strike a deal of having China purchase more American semiconductors over suppliers from South Korea and Japan, the toll could fall heavily on Korea’s chip-making industry, which is responsible for the bulk of Korean exports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington has asked Beijing to import more American cars and semiconductors to address its trade deficit with China. The Financial Times also reported that Beijing is tilting towards agreeing to reduce imports from Korea and Japan and use more American chips to avoid the threatening U.S. tariffs on Chinese products. Regardless of which side proposed it first, it appears that Korean chipmakers are caught in the crossfire of trade friction between the two largest economies.
http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3046189&cloc=etc%7Cjad%7Cgooglenews

According to multiple foreign reports, China has offered to increase the percentage of semiconductor chips it buys from American sources, replacing offerings from South Korea and Taiwan.

http://businesskorea.co.kr/english/news/industry/21301-running-unexpected-snag-korean-semiconductor-industry-faces-huge-loss-exports

Paper tigers? US and China in dispute over tariffs but trade war looks remote
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/mar/25/us-china-trade-tariffs-paper-tigers

N.American semicon makers posted global billings of US$2.41 billion in February, says SEMI | http://www.klsescreener.com/v2/news/view/357275

Semiconductor rally is coming. Most analysts failed to predict that at the end of 2017..
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5ESOX/

KESM Industries

The world’s largest independent burn-in and test service company KESM does not make chips but has shipped about a billion burn-in and test devices to its customers — semiconductor companies. Although it does not directly export products, KESM is a company to watch as it supports and sells to exporters and works closely with top semiconductor firms. Its aggressive capital expenditure into the automotive burn-in and test business could rake in returns from the growth of autonomous and smarter vehicles.

Vix "fear index" was manipulated, says alleged whistleblower
http://www.cityam.com/280536/vix-fear-index-manipulated-says-alleged-whistleblower

It is premature for global stock sell off to happen. Dollar remains weak, so
stock sell off in emerging markets will never happen.

Study on stock markets in emerging countries

Malaysia

USDMYR 3.973 (one month ago)
USDMYR 3.9394 (now)
KLCI 1820.25 (one month ago)
KLCI 1819.82 (now)

Thailand

USDTHB 31.96 (one month ago)
USDTHB 31.71 (now)
SET 1812.89 (one month ago)
SET 1786.45 (now)

Indonesia

USDIDR 13,395.00 (one month ago)
USDIDR 13,623.00 (now)
JKSE 6397.959 (one month ago)
JKSE 6505.52 (now)

USA

Dow Jones 25574.73 (one month ago)
Dow Jones 24190.90 (now)
US Dollar Index 92.508 (one month ago)
US Dollar Index 90.32 (now)


Conclusion: currencies and stock prices in emerging countries in Southeast Asia have been quite stable during the global stock sell-off. They will remain stable as long as their currencies are stable.

Regarding Malaysia, due to the factors below

1. ringgit has been stable
2. oil price has been high
3. in 2017 Malaysian stocks underperformed their global counterparts,

stock prices will remain more stable than stock prices in developped countries.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-31/companies-in-u-s-added-234-000-jobs-in-january-adp-data-show

The US semiconductor index was up 3.26%. Very bullish. It is close to a multi-year high. Buy semiconductor stocks on Monday! Semiconductor rally is coming.
https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/index/sox

North American semi equipment industry posts strong December billings

26 January 2018
North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted US$2.39 billion in billings worldwide in December 2017 (three-month average basis), according to SEMI. The billings figure is 16.3% higher than the revised November 2017 level of US$2.05 billion and 27.7% above the December 2016 billings level of US$1.87 billion.
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180126PR200.html