James, you cited this: Global sales of semiconductor chips in August reached $11.6 billion, up 15.3 percent from the same month a year ago, the Semiconductor Industry Association said Friday in its monthly report.
Encouraging that the improvement is in terms of $$ and not just in units. Where's that guy claiming lower ASPs??? Another rough gauge that can make it look good for the microprocessor manufacturers' (read Intel) is that memory prices have gone through the floor of the basement, and yet year over year improvement in semi $$ is still at a very healthy 15.3%. That improvement has to be coming from somewhere. Of course, the gain could also be coming from the ASIC, PLD, analog, and other kinds of semi manufacturers as well. But, usually, the bellwether shares mightily in the gain (or loss) when it's there.
I don't know, the only negatives on Intel's 3Q I've seen so far are all speculation, rumor and FUD. OTOH, the reports from the SIA and major companies like Compaq and Dell, in terms of cold hard cash, are very positive.
BTW, the FUD seems to be all coming off Wall Street, which is about 3K miles from SI Valley. The rumors out here, where it's really at, are all positive about Intel's 3Q.
Tony
|