A supply-chain rumour is only as strong as its weakest link, and this one has a single link so far. As of 02:00 (UTC) / 10:00 (GMT+8) on 19 October 2026, a Seoul Economic Daily report from 18 October said Samsung Electronics would use TSMC’s 3-nanometre process for Nvidia’s NVHBM base dies. We could not locate confirmation from Samsung, TSMC or Nvidia. This brief separates what is documented from what is reported.

Nvidia introduced NVHBM on 26 August^[1], which is the part we can stand behind.

What happened

Nvidia described NVHBM as placing its custom memory controller in the HBM base die, without naming memory suppliers or a foundry^[1]. That matters, because it means the Samsung and TSMC pairing is not in Nvidia’s own description of the design. The Seoul report also said Nvidia asked SK hynix and Micron to build the same base die on TSMC’s 3-nanometre process; none of that is confirmed either.

On the numbers, Samsung guided third-quarter sales of about 195 trillion won and operating income of about 107.40 trillion won, both midpoints of guided ranges^[2]. TSMC reported revenue of NT$1,494.24 billion, a 66.4% gross margin and fourth-quarter revenue guidance of $52.3 billion to $54.3 billion^[3]. Samsung also showed HBM4E at GTC in March^[6].

A habit for rumour season

Write “reported” or “confirmed” next to every claim. By that test, NVHBM’s existence is confirmed^[1], Samsung’s HBM4E showing at GTC is confirmed^[6], TSMC’s results are confirmed^[3], and the Samsung TSMC base-die link is reported. HBM4 headlines move fast, and the gap between those two labels is where most of the noise lives.

What traders are watching

For traders following share CFDs tied to AI chips, the useful habit is simple: tag each claim as confirmed or reported. Our TSM news, NVIDIA news and SK Hynix news tags help with that.

Earnings season supplies the next hard data. See our Tesla event note for what is verified before 21 October, and our Fed meeting preview for the macro backdrop. The stagflation tests piece is a useful companion for any growth-sensitive sector.

What to watch

• Meta Q3 results, 21 October: After the US close; call at 13:30 (PT), 20:30 (UTC) / 04:30 (GMT+8) on 22 October^[4].
• IBM Q3 results, 21 October: Call at 17:00 (ET), 21:00 (UTC) / 05:00 (GMT+8) on 22 October^[5].
• US GDP and PCE, 29 October: Released at 08:30 (ET), 12:30 (UTC) / 20:30 (GMT+8)^[7].

A Stop Loss is one way traders manage exposure, though it does not guarantee execution at a set level, and prices can gap when company announcements land outside market hours.

Leverage is double-edged: it magnifies gains and losses alike. Position sizing relative to account balance matters most ahead of the earnings dates above, as share CFDs can gap.

RISK WARNING: CFDs are complex financial instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should ensure you fully understand the risks involved and carefully consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money before trading.

Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational purposes only and doesn’t take into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. It does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary. The information has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained within. This material may contain historical or past performance figures and should not be relied on. Furthermore estimates, forward-looking statements, and forecasts cannot be guaranteed. The information on this site and the products and services offered are not intended for distribution to any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

References

[1] “NVIDIA NVLink Fusion Expands With NVHBM Custom High-Bandwidth Memory – NVIDIA” https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/nvlink-fusion-nvhbm-custom-high-bandwidth-memory/ Accessed on 19 October 2026.

[2] “Samsung Electronics Announces Earnings Guidance for Third Quarter 2026 – Samsung Electronics” https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-announces-earnings-guidance-for-third-quarter-2026 Accessed on 19 October 2026.

[3] “TSMC Reports Third Quarter EPS of NT$29.43 – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company” https://pr.tsmc.com/english/news/3346 Accessed on 19 October 2026.

[4] “Meta to Announce Third Quarter 2026 Results – Meta Investor Relations” https://investor.atmeta.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2026/Meta-to-Announce-Third-Quarter-2026-Results/default.aspx Accessed on 19 October 2026.

[5] “IBM to Announce Third-Quarter 2026 Financial Results – IBM Newsroom” https://newsroom.ibm.com/2026-10-07-ibm-to-announce-third-quarter-2026-financial-results Accessed on 19 October 2026.

[6] “Samsung Unveils HBM4E at NVIDIA GTC 2026 – Samsung Electronics” https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-unveils-hbm4e-showcasing-comprehensive-ai-solutions-nvidia-partnership-and-vision-at-nvidia-gtc-2026 Accessed on 19 October 2026.

[7] “Release Schedule – U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis” https://www.bea.gov/news/schedule Accessed on 19 October 2026.