THC,
"Why are semi eqips rebounding ??"
Because the market anticipates future developments (6-12 months). From all major sources (book to bill, gahner's publications, semicond.org etc.) there is this music coming on, but remember the market dived ! Many sectors were hit differently, just to give some examples:
CMP-Tools: IPEC, from $35+ to $13
Photomasks: PLAB from $60 to $35
AMAT, LRCX, NVLS: big dive. etc.
CYMI: from $50 to $14
And here comes the interesting part: while I can see weakness in other fron-end segments (wafer-processing, automation, etching, RTP etc.), the DUV-segment should be somewhat isolated from that weakness because it seems to constitute "enabling technology" for the next generation. Creative financing helps even the tightest conditions, as You can see in Samsung & Hyunday deals. They need those steppers, often they change the eqipment mix from 50% DUV to 100% DUV. Not bad for us CYMI holders, uh ?
Also I wouldn't count out other enabling technologies. CMP-eqipment: IPEC, SFAM is needed for copper-processing. In other words: don't let panic catch You. Weakness seems to be a reginal phenomen, not a global one. After all, I want my next Slot-2/Pentium2 or the K6-3D in my machine <G>.
best wishes
CROSSY |
