东京电子（Tokyo Electron，代码8035.T）于周五预测，其营业利润将大幅增长87%，达到1.17万亿日元（合74.1亿美元），超出预期，凸显了在人工智能热潮推动下，对芯片制造设备的需求依然强劲。
Tokyo Electron (8035.T) on Friday forecast a stronger-than-expected 87% jump in operating profit to 1.17 trillion yen ($7.41 billion), underscoring robust demand for chipmaking equipment driven by the AI boom.
此前，在Alphabet（代码GOOGL.O）、英特尔（代码INTC.O）和亚马逊（代码AMZN.O）因持续的高额资本支出导致股价隔夜纷纷下跌之后，投资者对人工智能基础设施的大量投入能否带来足够回报的担忧日益加剧，而这份乐观的预测正是在此背景下做出的。
The upbeat forecast comes despite growing investor concerns over whether heavy spending on AI infrastructure will deliver adequate returns, after Alphabet (GOOGL.O), Intel (INTC.O) and Amazon (AMZN.O) all fell overnight amid continued high capital expenditure.
这种谨慎情绪于周五蔓延至亚洲，包括韩国SK海力士（代码000660.KS）、台湾台积电（代码2330.TW）以及日本爱德万测试（代码6857.T）在内的科技股均面临压力。
The caution spread to Asia on Friday, with technology stocks including South Korea's SK Hynix (000660.KS), Taiwan's TSMC (2330.TW) and Japan's Advantest (6857.T) coming under pressure.
东京电子首席财务官川本弘（Hiroshi Kawamoto）对记者表示：“在我们与客户进行的各种交谈中，兴趣非常浓厚。”
"In the various conversations we are having with our customers, interest is very strong," Tokyo Electron Chief Financial Officer Hiroshi Kawamoto told reporters.
“目前，没有任何迹象表明这种趋势正在放缓。”尽管外界对人工智能相关的支出存在担忧，但亚洲的芯片和半导体设备供应商依然持续报告强劲的业绩。SK海力士本周表示，随着内存价格上涨推动利润增长，该公司将向股东回报约750亿美元。
"At present, there are no signs that this is slowing down." Despite concerns about AI-related spending, Asian suppliers of chips and semiconductor equipment continue to report strong results. SK Hynix said this week it would return about $75 billion to shareholders as higher memory prices boost profits.
*东京电子是一家为芯片制造商提供沉积和蚀刻等工艺设备的主要供应商，该公司表示将斥资高达1500亿日元回购约2500万股股票。在发布财报之前，其股价收盘下跌了5%。
Tokyo Electron, a major supplier of equipment for processes such as deposition and etching to chipmakers, said it would spend up to 150 billion yen to buy back some 25 million shares. Its shares closed down 5% ahead of earnings.