IDC predicts strong PC demand
By Janet Haney, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 10:37 AM ET Sep 7, 2000 NewsWatch
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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Computer-related stocks shot forward encouraged by words from research firm IDC.
The Goldman Sachs Computer Hardware Index ($GHA: news, msgs) rose 1.8 percent.
Framingham, Mass.-based IDC said unit volume for the worldwide PC market should climb to 33.4 million in the third quarter, a 18.5 percent jump from the year-ago period.
"The consumer market will once again propel global PC growth this quarter," said Bruce Stephen, IDC group vice president for Worldwide Personal Systems research. "Consumer demand for PCs is especially strong in Asian markets, and U.S. home PC volume is expected to improve based on back-to-school sales."
The upcoming holiday selling season is also traditionally a robust time for PC manufacturers. Companies that may benefit from back-to-school and holiday sales include Apple Computer (AAPL: news, msgs), IBM (IBM: news, msgs), Hewlett-Packard (HWP: news, msgs), Compaq (CPQ: news, msgs) and Dell (DELL: news, msgs).
Apple shares leapt $2.06 to $60.50 in recent trading and Compaq was higher by 50 cents to $31.88. |
