Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML on Wednesday reported better-than-expected net sales and profit results for the fourth quarter.

The company posted fourth-quarter orders well above analysts’ expectations as chip makers scrambled for machinery to produce increasingly sophisticated semiconductors.

Computer chip equipment maker ASML's CEO on Wednesday made the case that the advent of efficient AI models such as one China's DeepSeek has launched is a net positive for chip markets. Christophe Fouquet said that perceptions of AI spending are skewed by the massive investments being made by "hyperscalers" - companies such as Google,