Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ( TSM , Financial ) saw the premium on its US-listed shares over domestically traded shares rise to over 24% last Friday, marking the highest level since early December.

This 24.5% premium over the third quarter average of 19% underscores continuing global investor appetite for engaging companies that are set to reap the rewards of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

The widening premium was due in part to the divergence in performance between TSMC in Taipei and TSMC in New York. TSMC's local shares fell 3.3 per cent on Friday as Asian markets edged lower, while improved sentiment in US trading lifted the company's ADRs by 1.3 per cent.

Market analysts say the switch is due to stronger demand in global markets for exposure to TSMC's growth, as the chipmaker continues to play a key role as a semiconductor and AI supplier. Investor interest in TSMC's role in advanced chip production for high-growth sectors like AI-driven technologies has been strong, even in light of regional volatility.

The premium, which arose from a persistent trend in which US-listed shares of international tech companies are valued more than their domestic peers, highlights a global trend. It tells US investors that companies on the leading edge of the next wave of technological innovation are worth investing in.

Shares in TSMC last closed Friday at $95.13 in New York, while they traded at NT$568 in Taipei. The spread also indicates TSMC's strategic location as a global semiconductor leader in a changing regional environment.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus .