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By Akash Sriram (Reuters) -Global space investment hit a record $3.5 billion in the third quarter, driven by a wider range of startups and continued defense spending, according to a report released Friday by space-focused investment firm Seraphim Space. Investments, from rocket-makers to low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, jumped from $1.79 billion in the same period last year, solidifying space as a leading growth sector in technology alongside AI. Analysts said the record quarter reflects a maturing market, with investment now spread across more companies rather than being dominated by a handful of big-ticket deals. “Historically, most of the capital in the sector was concentrated in just a couple of players, SpaceX and OneWeb,” said Lucas Bishop, investment associate at Seraphim Space. “What we’re seeing now is a far more diverse set of investable companies, signaling that space has evolved into a broader, more mature market." While hardware-focused defense tech firms such as Hadrian, Apex and Hermeus led the top deals in the U.S., China's Galactic Energy raised the most with a $336 million round last month. Funding is increasingly being driven by government efforts to build up domestic space and defense industries in the U.S., China and Europe, the report said. Analysts expect the momentum to carry into 2026 as commercial satellite networks expand and governments ramp up procurement, opening new opportunities for dual-use technologies across civilian and defense markets such as OneWeb and SpaceX's Starshield program. Public space companies have surged with Rocket Lab and Planet Labs having more than doubled, while AST SpaceMobile has more than tripled after showcasing satellite-to-phone broadband. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

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BEIJING (Reuters) -China has initiated an investigation into U.S. semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm, the country's market regulator said on Friday. The regulator said Qualcomm was suspected of violating China's antitrust law. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing newsroom. Editing by Jane Merriman)

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BEIJING (Reuters) -China dramatically expanded its rare earths export controls on Thursday, adding five new elements and extra scrutiny for semiconductor users as Beijing tightens control over the sector ahead of talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The world's largest rare earths producer also added dozens of pieces of refining technology to its control list and announced rules that will require compliance from foreign rare earth producers who use Chinese materials. The Ministry of Commerce's announcements follow U.S. lawmakers' call on Tuesday for broader bans on the export of chipmaking equipment to China. They expand controls Beijing announced in April that caused shortages around the world, before a series of deals with Europe and the U.S. eased the supply crunch. "The White House and relevant agencies are closely assessing any impact from the new rules, which were announced without any notice and imposed in an apparent effort to exert control over the entire world's technology supply chains," a White House official told Reuters on Thursday. The new curbs come ahead of a scheduled face-to-face meeting between Trump and Xi in South Korea at the end of October. "This helps with increasing leverage for Beijing ahead of the anticipated Trump-Xi summit in (South) Korea later this month," said Tim Zhang, founder of Singapore-based Edge Research. China produces over 90% of the world's processed rare earths and rare earth magnets. The 17 rare earths are vital materials in products ranging from electric vehicles to aircraft engines and military radars. Exports of 12 of them are now restricted after the ministry added five – holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium – along with related materials. Foreign companies producing some of the rare earths and related magnets on the list will now also need a Chinese export licence if the final product contains or is made with Chinese equipment or material. This applies even if the transaction includes no Chinese companies. The regulations mimic rules the U.S. has implemented to restrict other countries' exports of semiconductor-related products to China. It was not immediately clear how Beijing intends to enforce its new regime, especially as the U.S., the European Union and others race to build alternatives to the Chinese rare earth supply chain. "We're likely entering a period of structural bifurcation — with China localizing its value chain and the U.S. and allies accelerating their own," said Neha Mukherjee, a rare earths analyst with Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. In a nod to concerns about supply shortages, the ministry said the scope of items in its latest restrictions was limited and "a variety of licensing facilitation measures will be adopted". China's latest restrictions on the five additional elements and processing equipment will take effect on November 8, just before a 90-day trade truce with Washington expires. The rules on foreign companies that make products using Chinese rare earths equipment or material are to take effect on December 1. Shares in China Northern Rare Earth Group, China Rare Earth Resources and Technology and Shenghe Resources surged by 10%, 9.97% and 9.4%, respectively, on Thursday. Shares in U.S.-based rare earths companies jumped as well in New York afternoon trading, with Critical Metals Corp gaining 25%, Energy Fuels adding 9%, MP Materials gaining 2.5% and USA Rare Earth up 15%. Energy Fuels, which owns a uranium and rare earths processing facility in Utah, said in a statement to Reuters that it is working to boost U.S. rare earths production and that its recent pilot project "showcases the technical capabilities of an American company on American soil." NioCorp, which is developing a Nebraska rare earths mine, said: "It's clear that the People's Liberation Army is increasingly calling the shots on rare earth policy in China. That means even more difficult times both for the Pentagon and for a wide range of commercial manufacturers." CHIPS AND DEFENSE The ministry also said overseas defense users will not be granted licences, while applications related to advanced semiconductors will be approved on a case-by-case basis. The new rules apply to 14-nanometer chips or more advanced chips, memory chips with 256 layers or more, and equipment used in production of such chips, as well as to related research and development. These advanced chips are used in products from smartphones to AI chipsets that require powerful computing performance. The rules will also apply to research and development of artificial intelligence with potential military applications. South Korea, home to major memory chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, is assessing the details of the new restrictions and will continue discussions with China to minimise their impact, its industry ministry said in a statement to Reuters. Samsung declined to comment. SK Hynix and Taiwan's TSMC did not immediately respond to questions. Shares in TSMC rose 1.8% on Thursday, as the company reported forecast-beating third-quarter revenue. South Korea's financial markets were closed on Thursday for a public holiday. (Reporting by Beijing bureau; Additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Houston, Heekyong Yang in Seoul, Eric Onstad in London and Jarrett Renshaw in Washington; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Kate Mayberry, Tom Hogue, Mark Heinrich, Jason Neely and Marguerita Choy)

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LONDON (Reuters) -Global financial regulators have laid out plans for closer monitoring of the risks as banks and other parts of the financial industry ramp up the use of artificial intelligence. Concerns raised by authorities include that too many institutions end up using the same AI models and specialised hardware, which could lead to herd-like behaviour. "This heavy reliance can create vulnerabilities if there are few alternatives available," the report by the Financial Stability Board, the G20's risk watchdog, said. A separate study published by central bank umbrella group, the Bank for International Settlements, said there was an "urgent need" for central banks, financial regulators and supervisory authorities to "raise their game" in relation to AI. "There is a need to upgrade their capabilities both as informed observers of the effects of technological advancements and as users of the technology itself," the BIS said. (Reporting by Marc JonesEditing by Mark Potter)

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LONDON (Reuters) -Global financial regulators have laid out plans for closer monitoring of the risks as banks and other parts of the financial industry ramp up the use of artificial intelligence. Concerns raised by authorities include that too many institutions end up using the same AI models and specialised hardware, which could lead to herd-like behaviour. "This heavy reliance can create vulnerabilities if there are few alternatives available," the report by the Financial Stability Board, the G20's risk watchdog, said. A separate study published by central bank umbrella group, the Bank for International Settlements, said there was an "urgent need" for central banks, financial regulators and supervisory authorities to "raise their game" in relation to AI. "There is a need to upgrade their capabilities both as informed observers of the effects of technological advancements and as users of the technology itself," the BIS said. (Reporting by Marc JonesEditing by Mark Potter)

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KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Malaysia warned on Friday that any removal of tariff exemptions on its semiconductor exports by the United States could hurt its competitiveness and strain supply networks, according to a government report.  President Donald Trump's administration in August imposed a tariff of 19% on Malaysian exports to the United States, though some items including semiconductors are currently exempt pending a U.S. national security probe. Also in August, Trump proposed to levy 100% tariff on imported chips, though he said it would not apply to companies with a manufacturing footprint in the United States or plans to build one.   Any removal of the semiconductor exemptions "could result in repercussions, reduce competitiveness and strain sectors that are closely integrated with the U.S. supply chains," the Malaysian government said in an economic outlook report released with its 2026 budget. Malaysia is the world's sixth-largest exporter of semiconductors.   Malaysia is already expecting a hit to its economy as a result of the U.S. tariffs, projecting gross domestic product growth to be lower by 0.76 percentage points, according to the report.  It also expects imports and exports to shrink next year due in part to the tariffs, the report said.  Malaysia in July lowered its growth forecast for 2025 to between 4% and 4.8%, from its initial estimate of 4.5% to 5.5%, citing trade and tariff uncertainties.  It expects economic growth of 4% to 4.5% in 2026.  (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by David Stanway)

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KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Malaysia warned on Friday that any removal of tariff exemptions on its semiconductor exports by the United States could hurt its competitiveness and strain supply networks, according to a government report.  President Donald Trump's administration in August imposed a tariff of 19% on Malaysian exports to the United States, though some items including semiconductors are currently exempt pending a U.S. national security probe. Also in August, Trump proposed to levy 100% tariff on imported chips, though he said it would not apply to companies with a manufacturing footprint in the United States or plans to build one.   Any removal of the semiconductor exemptions "could result in repercussions, reduce competitiveness and strain sectors that are closely integrated with the U.S. supply chains," the Malaysian government said in an economic outlook report released with its 2026 budget. Malaysia is the world's sixth-largest exporter of semiconductors.   Malaysia is already expecting a hit to its economy as a result of the U.S. tariffs, projecting gross domestic product growth to be lower by 0.76 percentage points, according to the report.  It also expects imports and exports to shrink next year due in part to the tariffs, the report said.  Malaysia in July lowered its growth forecast for 2025 to between 4% and 4.8%, from its initial estimate of 4.5% to 5.5%, citing trade and tariff uncertainties.  It expects economic growth of 4% to 4.5% in 2026.  (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by David Stanway)

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LONDON (Reuters) -Global financial regulators have laid out plans for closer monitoring of the risks as banks and other parts of the financial industry ramp up the use of artificial intelligence. Concerns raised by authorities include that too many institutions end up using the same AI models and specialised hardware, which could lead to herd-like behaviour. "This heavy reliance can create vulnerabilities if there are few alternatives available," the report by the Financial Stability Board, the G20's risk watchdog, said. A separate study published by central bank umbrella group, the Bank for International Settlements, said there was an "urgent need" for central banks, financial regulators and supervisory authorities to "raise their game" in relation to AI. "There is a need to upgrade their capabilities both as informed observers of the effects of technological advancements and as users of the technology itself," the BIS said. (Reporting by Marc JonesEditing by Mark Potter)

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(Corrects to say South Korea's Gyeongju in first paragraph, not Seoul) By Joe Cash BEIJING (Reuters) -Beijing is stacking up its bargaining chips ahead of expected U.S.-China talks when Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping visit South Korea's Gyeongju, announcing new export controls to tighten its grip over high-tech manufacturing supply chains. The two superpowers look to be struggling to move beyond their current tariff truce – a 90-day pause from August 11 that ends around November 9 – with officials from both sides continuing to meet to discuss issues predating last month's Madrid summit, widely seen as a breakthrough for its Tiktok deal, which would see the U.S. take a stake in one of China's most successful companies overseas. HOW THE TRADE WAR UNFOLDED On February 4, Trump implemented an additional 10% tariff on imports from China demanding Beijing do more to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors into the U.S. China hit back with levies on some U.S. commodities, farm equipment and automobiles, as well as probes into several American businesses.  In April, Trump singled out China for tariffs exceeding 100% following his sweeping "Liberation Day" duties, while pausing the reciprocal tariffs he placed on some other countries the White House also deemed to be trading unfairly with the U.S. China retaliated, and over the next few weeks, both sides continued raising duties on each other's goods – peaking in May – before agreeing on May 12 to their first 90-day pause, which also saw U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods fall from 145% to 30% and Chinese tariffs on American products drop from 125% to 10%. There have been two more 90-day extensions since then, the latest agreed on August 11. CRITICAL MINERALS  On Thursday, along with the addition of five new elements to its control list, Beijing unexpectedly announced export curbs on certain types of artificial diamonds and artificial graphite anode materials – other areas where China is the top producer – used in the production of semiconductors, quantum devices and advanced electronic systems. Those curbs are set to take effect from November 8, just a day before the current truce expires. Xi and Trump are expected to meet on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit prior to that.  China, the world's largest rare earths producer, has been tightening its control over these critical minerals, used in everything from lithium-ion batteries and semiconductors to aircraft engines, LED TVs, camera lenses, and much more. Earlier controls announced in April caused shortages around the world, before a series of deals with Europe and the U.S. eased the supply crunch. SEMICONDUCTORS  One reason China has tightened its control over critical minerals is the U.S. has sought to limit its access to advanced semiconductors, critical for powering artificial intelligence models and applications. U.S. lawmakers say that without these restrictions, China could reverse-engineer or independently develop advanced semiconductor technologies faster than the U.S., enabling China to not only dominate the industry but also gain a military edge. China has repeatedly called on the Trump administration to remove such curbs, accusing Washington of trying to contain its legitimate economic development.  TAIWAN Sensing that the Trump administration might be open to a deal that goes beyond traditional trade talks, there are reports that Beijing has renewed efforts to push Washington to alter the language the United States uses when discussing its position on Taiwanese independence. China for a while now has wanted the U.S. to say "we oppose Taiwan independence," rather than the current version, which is that the U.S. "does not support" the independence of Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.  BALANCED TRADE Beijing also demands that the Trump administration remove the additional tariffs and ease restrictions limiting Chinese firms' ability to invest in the world's No.1 economy – a major source of friction that has not been resolved.  Chinese companies' investments in the U.S. face intense scrutiny over concerns about technology transfer, cybersecurity, and dual-use military application, particularly in AI, aerospace, biotech, semiconductors and telecommunications.  On the flip side, U.S. politicians have talked up a deal that would see China commit to buy more Boeing jets and raised the fact that the world's biggest buyer of soybeans has yet to book any U.S. soybean cargoes.     FENTANYL Despite Trump's 20% fentanyl tariffs imposed in early 2025 to pressure China into curbing the flow of chemicals driving America's deadly opioid crisis, Beijing has yet to publicly unveil any dramatic move to meet his demands. But China in June did announce that it had added two precursors to its list of controlled chemicals and arrested or prosecuted some 2,000 people for drug-related money laundering. The Trump administration has not budged. (Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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(Reuters) -China has intensified enforcement of its import restrictions on U.S. chips, including Nvidia's artificial intelligence processors, the Financial Times reported, as Beijing sharpens its focus on promoting home-grown semiconductor production. Chinese customs officials were dispatched to key ports to conduct strict checks on semiconductor shipments, the newspaper said on Friday, citing unidentified sources. China customs officials did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment, while an Nvidia spokesperson declined to comment on the report. The newspaper said the inspections targeted Nvidia's H20 and RTX Pro 6000D, designed to adhere to U.S. export controls, initially. The checks have been extended to include all advanced semiconductor products that breach U.S. export curbs, the report said. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The extent to which China has access to Nvidia's world-leading chips has been a key point of friction between the U.S. and China. The Financial Times newspaper had previously reported that at least $1 billion worth of Nvidia's top AI chips were smuggled and sold in China in the three months from May. Reuters could not independently verify the report. Nvidia has a new AI chip 'RTX6000D' tailored for the Chinese market, Reuters reported last month, but it has seen only lukewarm demand with some major tech firms opting not to place orders. In August, U.S. President Donald Trump flagged the possibility of allowing Nvidia to sell more advanced chips in China. Authorities in China have previously accused Nvidia of violating anti-monopoly law. They have also ordered top tech firms to halt purchases of Nvidia's AI chips and cancel existing orders, FT reported in September. Despite advances by Huawei and other Chinese chip firms in recent years, people involved in engineering operations at Chinese tech firms say Nvidia's chips perform better. (Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Subhranshu Sahu)

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