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To: Duker who wrote (3765)	12/27/1999 11:12:00 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5867

PC Unit Sales Edge Up 0.9 Pct. in Fifth Week of November December 27, 1999 (TOKYO) -- Personal computer unit sales in Japan's retail market edged up slightly during the fifth week of November 1999 over the prior week, but the general market tone remained brisk. An all-time high sales record is expected the following week as the retailers brace for the peak bonus season. According to Gfk Japan Ltd., an information service company handling POS data of 55 household electric appliance retail stores, PC sales in the fifth week of November (Nov. 29 - Dec. 5, 1999) increased 0.9 percent in units, but dropped 1.5 percent in value compared with the previous week. Compared to the same week a year ago (Nov. 30 - Dec. 6, 1998), however, PC sales surged 25.5 percent in units and 8.5 percent in value. The average PC retail price dropped 4,839 yen to 198,804 yen from the previous week's 203,643 yen. (102.26 yen = US$1) This was the first drop in six weeks to the 190,000 yen level in the average retail price. It was affected largely by the full-scale sale of the "M350V," a price-leader model marketed by Sotec Co., Ltd. for less than 100,000 yen. The average retail price of a desktop/tower model was 168,672 yen, the second-lowest level after the 166,021 yen marked in the third week of September 1999, when low-priced fall models were on hand. Notebook PCs retailed for 233,795 yen, about the same as the third week of November. GfK Japan collects POS data from 55 IT-related retail sales companies centering on high-volume stores specializing in home electric appliances. It covers about 3,200 stores (as of April 1998) throughout Japan. In cooperation with GfK Japan, Nikkei Market Access provides weekly reports of PC sales in volume and value. The sales data has been based on the same 41 companies (with about 2,000 stores) since April 1996. The number of PCs sold at the 2,000 stores is estimated to comprise about 10 percent of gross domestic shipments, and when limiting the sales to retail sales channel, the share comes to about 25 percent of such shipments.

To: Duker who wrote (3765)	12/27/1999 4:29:00 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 5867

Monday, December 27, 1999 BUSINESS Strong chip demand sees output surge BLOOMBERG in Singapore -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Singapore's industrial output grew last month as a surge in demand fuelled orders of electronics and chemicals companies. Factory production increased a worse than expected 18.2 per cent year-on-year last month. MMS International predicted a 20 per cent year-on-year increase for the month. The gain was less than the previous record year-on-year gain in October of 22.6 per cent. Still, the gain was aided by a low base since output dropped 3.3 per cent year-on-year in November last year. "Strong global demand continued to drive up output of semiconductors," said the Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB). "The telecommunication-equipment industry produced more mobile phones for exports to the Asian markets." Manufacturing industry, which accounts for about a quarter of Singapore's gross domestic product, is driving the island's economic rebound from last year's recession. Singapore's economy expanded 6.7 per cent on year in the third quarter and is tipped by the government to grow about 5 per cent this year. Electronics output rose 25.5 per cent compared to a year ago. A good performance for Singapore's manufacturers was expected after the island reported exports rose 24.5 per cent on year in November, reaching a record S$9.36 billion (about HK$43.51 billion). The spurt in output may encourage investors to buy more stocks next week. The electronics index is up 97 per cent so far this year, outperforming the benchmark Straits Times Index's 75 per cent gain during the same period. The production of electronics, which accounts for about 43 per cent of total manufacturing, increased 23.2 per cent in the first eleven months of the year, the EDB said. Gains in semiconductor output helped offset a drop in disk drive and printed circuit board production as companies such as Western Digital shifted production to lower-cost countries, such as Malaysia. Chemicals output, which has a 21.5 per cent portion in manufacturing, expanded 21 per cent year-on-year last month. Output of specialty chemicals rose 61.3 per cent from a year ago. Engineering output, which includes precision, process and transport engineering, rose 6.8 per cent from a year ago, led by precision engineering.

To: Duker who wrote (3765)	12/28/1999 10:50:00 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5867

Lehman raises estimates for semiconductor spending NEW YORK, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers said Tuesday it raised its estimates for 1999 worldwide semiconductor capital spending growth to 24 percent from 21 percent to 22 percent and sees growth of 25 percent for 2000. The survey tracks most major semiconductor companies in the world, including Intel Corp. (NasdaqNM:INTC - news), Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT - news), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE:AMD - news), Toshiba Corp and STMicroelectronics NV , said Ed White, semiconductor equipment analyst at Lehman. ''We project worldwide capital spending for the companies we survey at $29.4 billion, up from 1998's $23.6 billion, and up from our previous estimate of $28.5 billion. The revision is largely due to higher estimates for the U.S. and Asia,'' the Lehman note states. ''Those are pretty firm numbers,'' White said. The 25 percent rate for 2000 is expected to get a boost from increased spending in the United States and Japan, White said. The survey includes all capital spending for the company, including semiconductor equipment as well as bricks and mortar projects. The Standard & Poor's semiconductor equipment maker index (^SPTKSM - news) was down 8 points, or 1.68 percent, at 562 in morning trading amid general weakness in technology stocks. biz.yahoo.com