Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Amkor Technology Inc (AMKR) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tech101 who wrote (316)	7/22/1999 10:26:00 AM
From: tech101	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1056

SEMI's book-to-bill of 1.24 shows recovery moving slowly forward A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc. Story posted 9 a.m. EST/6 a.m., PST, 7/22/99 By J. Robert Lineback MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Slow and steady goes the 1999 recovery of semiconductor capital equipment markets. For now, put most of the emphasis on s-l-o-w, based on the new book-to-bill index for North American chip equipment suppliers from the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) trade group. SEMI's book-to-bill index for June dipped slightly 1.24 from a revised 1.25 reading in May. The index still shows more orders for chip production systems being booked than shipped, but the bookings in June were 1% lower than in May. An index of 1.24 indicates that $124 in orders were received by suppliers for every $100 worth of products shipped. SEMI's book-to-bill has been above parity since the start of 1999 but it peaked in March at 1.33. But new orders for wafer fab, chip-assembly equipment and testers are holding up well enough that most executives continue to believe the recovery is on track after last year's severe recession. "The June figures are consistent with industry analysts' projections for a slow and steady recovery in both the semiconductor chip and equipment industries," said Stanley Myers, president of SEMI based in Mountain View. "Many analysts and attendees at Semicon West [in San Francisco and San Jose] last week supported this sentiment, expressing continued cautious optimism for a solid recovery into 2000." Using a three-month moving average, SEMIU said worldwide shipments of equipment from North American suppliers totaled $1.17 billion in June, which was nearly even with $1.18 billion in May but down 8% from $1.3 billion in June 1998. The bookings total for June was $1.45 billion, which was 1% lower than $1.47 billion in May. However, last month's bookings were 55% higher than $933 million recorded in June 1998, at nearly the low-point of the recession. SEMI noted that June's bookings were 89% of the previous business cycle peak of $1.6 billion in November 1997.