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ASML to Join U.S. Govt Chip-Equipment Research Group (Update1)
Veldhoven, Netherlands, Feb. 25 (Bloomberg) -- ASM Lithography NV, the world's second-largest maker of machines used to print images on semiconductors, said it will join a U.S. Department of Energy group to develop new technology. Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, leads the industry partnership and had invited ASML to participate. ASML didn't provide details on the conditions for its participation. The technology under development uses extreme
ultraviolet light, or EUV, to etch ever-smaller circuits on silicon wafers, making semiconductors faster and more powerful. The partnership, which includes Motorola Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., pays for research on the U.S. government-owned technology. Intel's invitation to ASML to participate, made public in November, boosted ASML shares as analysts saw it as a step toward receiving an order from Intel, which is a customer of ASML rival Nikon Corp. ASML is the best-performing stock on the benchmark AEX Index, having
risen 68 percent since the November announcement. ASML Chief Executive Willem Maris told Bloomberg News earlier this month that there's ''no chance'' of an order from Intel this year, however. Intel is ''evaluating'' ASML's products, he said. ASML shares rose 1.1 euros, or 2.8 percent, to 40.6.
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