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To: xun who wrote (89372)1/25/2000 12:00:00 PM
From: tejek  Respond to of 1571135
 
Panic mob and thread....an interesting article on Via
____________________________________________________________
Taiwan's VIA <2388.TW> seen risky but payoffs big

By Michael Kramer


TAIPEI, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Chip designer VIA Technologies has become a Taiwan investment darling by acting as a thorn in the side of mighty Intel Corp <INTC.O>, but foreign analysts are warily watching VIA's risk-driven strategy.

Intel launched its latest jab at VIA last week, asking the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar the Taiwan firm from exporting certain chips to the United States due to alleged patent violations.

VIA declines to comment on the allegations.

Intel filed a related lawsuit in July 1999 citing intellectual property infringement, and its enmity toward the small but scrappy challenger is hardly surprising.

VIA has generated sizzling sales by taking advantage of Intel product delays and gained a toehold in the U.S. giant's core business by acquiring National Semiconductor's <NSM.N> money-losing Cyrix microprocessor business in August. Cyrix chips compete with Intel's Pentium and Celeron processors.

A series of bold acquisitions, coupled with record sales figures, have sent the company's shares 235 percent higher since a July 17 low of T$107 to finish at T$358 on Tuesday.

VIA's price-earnings ratio stands at 72.72, against an average of 62.36 for the TAIEX electronics sub-index, according to Reuters Securities 3000 data.

DAVID AND GOLIATH

"VIA is one of the companies that actually has a shot in this David and Goliath situation, and Taiwanese (investors) support David," said ING Barings analyst Angela Soh.

"I think most foreign institutional investors are still very sceptical," Soh said, adding that foreign ownership in the firm was less than five percent.

"It's easy to say this is an interesting company and all that, but whether I would put my money on it is a different thing," Soh said.

Soh cited concerns over VIA's ability to integrate its string of acquisitions, but she nonetheless hailed it as a well-rounded company with a broad range of assets and a viable strategy.

After buying Cyrix, VIA snapped up Integrated Device Technology Inc's <IDIT.O> Centaur chip design team and took a 14.9 percent stake in graphics chip developer S3 <SIII.O>.

DELAYS AT INTEL HELP SALES

VIA's sales soared in 1999 as it took advantage of two Intel product launch delays in marketing a chipset -- which links the central microprocessor with the rest of a computer. VIA's chipsets outpaced Intel's swiftest models at the time.

Analysts say VIA's chipset strategy aims at a lower-tier market that Intel finds less desirable, but caution that revenues could be vulnerable if the fast but costly Rambus memory standard preferred by Intel finds favour with PC makers.

VIA reported sales of T$2.05 billion ($66.77 million) in November, a record for any month and a 101.24 percent rise from November 1998. VIA has yet to set a date for announcing its 1999 results, which must be posted by April 30.

"There's been a lot of speculation on VIA," said Frank Lee, a technology analyst at Indosuez W.I. Carr in Taipei. "People are very bullish on earnings per share and are expecting as much as T$10 per share."

VIA reported net earnings per share of T$4.08 in 1998.

"They have to make the numbers or people aren't going to trust them anymore," Lee said.

01:09 01-25-00

Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.



To: xun who wrote (89372)1/25/2000 12:01:00 PM
From: niceguy767  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 1571135
 
Hi panic mob:

Wouldn't be at all surprising...Just look at the ease with which AMD's Athlon has gotten to 800MHz and, why else, would AMD make such draconian cuts 750 MHz and down?

Looks to me like AMD's major constraint is not on the production side at the moment, but a marketing conundrum given the ease with which production is able to move up the MHz gradient...

Have you noticed since October, and the PWeeIII 733 fiasco, how easily any Intel "some-time-in-the-future" promises have been countered by "here-and-now" Athlons? Certainly seems to me to support the very real possibility of continuing outstanding bin splits at 800MHz for AMD! Doesn't appear that the same fortune has been bestowed upon Intel as the 800's have yet to materialize in any meaningful number in any meaningful place!



To: xun who wrote (89372)1/25/2000 12:41:00 PM
From: Goutam  Read Replies (6) | Respond to of 1571135
 
panic_mob,

Here is my weekly update of Athlon listings and prices at Pricewatch.

I realized that only few members of this thread are paying any attention to the data I have been posting
here or to my comments placed at the bottom of these reports. So, I moved my comments to the top.

_____________________________________________________________________
 Jan  24, 00

Comments:

[ Jan 17, 00 - Jan 24, 00]

1] Number of listings for 500 and 550 have gone down.

2] Based on the increased number of listings for 800 & 750, its my
impression that the supply of these recently released parts in the
channel has been steadily going up at a decent rate.

3] Athlon prices have gone down further indicating margin reductions by some
aggressive dealers to maximize their profits through higher volume.

4] AMD collapsed the price differences among 500, 500,600, and 650MHz Athlons.

500 +$16 550 +$27 600 +$45 650 +$198 700
$171----$189-----$216---------$261--------------------------------------$459


5] Intel reduced PIII prices, but PIIIs are still pricier than Athlons!
600MHZ and above, Athlon buyers can buy a mobo + more with the money
saved over PIIIs of equivalent speed.

Athlons o---> +$5s ---> PIIIs
750 $569 o----------------------- 733 +$114, 20%
700 $459 o--------------------------- 700 +$137, 30%
650 $261 o------------------------------------------- 650 +$213, 82%
600 $216 o------------------------- 600 +$123, 57%
550 $189 o--------------- 550 +$76, 40%
500 $171 o-------- 500 +$40, 29%


6] Based on the above graph, it seems Intel is conceding market share to
whatever AMD can produce at 650 and above. Intel either counting on less
than 2M Athlons in Q1?00 or must be hoping for some kind of breakthrough
by the end of February to dramatically increase high speed Coppermines
(production/speed bin splits/yields?)

7] Further % price cuts required by Intel from its recent price cuts to match
equivalent speed(except 733 vs 750) Athlons

PIII 733 - 25% = 750 Athlon
,, 700 - 28% = 700 ,,
,, 650 - 82% = 650 ,,
,, 600 - 57% = 600 ,,
,, 550 - 40% = 550 ,,
,, 500 - 29% = 500 ,,


8] All in all, I see these price cuts as positive for AMD. To me they are
indicative of Athlon manufacturability, good speed bin splits, AMDs push for
increased market share, push to bolster the Athlon Infrastructure (mobos,
chipsets, etc), shifting the market sweet spot to higher speed grades,
good supply of Athlons, taking control of dictating the high end CPU prices
from its competitor, etc.

Table 1 - AMD Athlon & Intel Coppermines Lowest Prices / Listings - PriceWatch

800 750 733 700 667 650 600 550 500
INTEL -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

11-29-99 $799,#14 $778,#20 $621,#22 $591,#22 $422,#117 $219,#101
12-06-99 $789,#14 $777,#19 $609,#27 $584,#24 $417,#118 $311,#98 $219,#100
12-13-99 $779,#17 $749,#20 $580,#24 $560,#22 $415,#112 $309,#95 $217,#98
12-20-99 $778,#19 $727,#25 $576,#27 $559,#21 $415,#113 $308,#97 $227,#93
12-27-99 No Show No Show $769,#20 $734,#26 $576,#28 $559,#23 $415,#111 $308,#95 $226,#98
01-03-00 No Show No Show $769,#23 $730,#32 $576,#30 $559,#27 $419,#114 $303,#99 $223,#101
01-10-00 No Show No Show $763,#26 $719,#30 $576,#30 $557,#31 $418,#113 $303,#99 $223,#99
01-17-00 No Show No Show $759,#28 $709,#30 $575,#29 $557,#32 $400,#109 $286,#91 $223,#96
01-24-00 No Show No Show $619,#28 $596,#35 $459,#35 $474,#32 $339,#109 $265,#89 $211,#104

INT-AMD $137,30% Higher $213,82% $123,57% $76,40% $40,29%
INT = AMD 23% see below 50% 36% 29% 19%

01-24-00 791,#16 $569,#25 $459,#63 $261,#68 $216,#77 $189,#70 $171,#49
01-17-00 765,#9 $633,#17 $495,#61 $297,#68 $247,#77 $198,#73 $173,#52
01-10-00 899,#2 $649,#15 A $499,#58 $299,#63 $249,#74 $199,#72 $175,#54 A
01-03-00 $820,#11 M $649,#54 $463,#64 $371,#71 $243,#70 $173,#55 M
12-27-99 $804,#12 D $651,#54 $488,#65 $385,#72 $249,#72 $177,#56 D
12-20-99 $859,#9 $651,#55 $491,#66 $389,#73 $253,#73 $178,#58
12-13-99 $859,#6 $651,#50 $483,#67 $381,#72 $253,#74 $183,#50
12-06-99 A $641,#48 $484,#68 $382,#72 $253,#69 $186,#50 A
11-29-99 M $652,#40 $495,#65 $392,#68 $254,#68 $193,#52 M
11-22-99 D $657,#41 $497,#64 $394,#67 $255,#68 $194,#51 D
11-14-99 $669,#36 $504,#60 $401,#64 $256,#68 $197,#43
11-07-99 $672,#29 $505,#53 $404,#56 $257,#61 $197,#39
11-02-99 $674,#25 $505,#53 $404,#55 $257,#60 $197,#41

* INT=AMD == PIII %price drops required to match K7 prices

Athlon CPU - Pricewatch
("___" = $xxx - lowest price, "***" = #xx = No. of Listings)

|_______________________($459, Jan 24,00)
|_________________________($495, Jan 17,00)
|_________________________($499, Jan 10,00)
|________________________________($649, Jan 03,00)
|_________________________________($651, Dec 27,99)
|_________________________________($651, Dec 20,99)
|_________________________________($651, Dec 13,99)
|________________________________($641, Dec 06,99)
|_________________________________($652, Nov 29,99) 20:1
|_________________________________($657, Nov 22,99)
|_________________________________($669, Nov 14,99)
|__________________________________($672, Nov 07,99)
|__________________________________($674, Nov 02,99)
|*********************************(#63, Jan 24,00)
|********************************(#61, Jan 17,00)
|******************************(#58, Jan 10,00)
|******************************(#58, Jan 03,00)
|****************************(#54, Dec 27,99)
|****************************(#55, Dec 20,99)
|*************************(#50, Dec 13,99)
|************************(#48, Dec 02, 99)
|***********************(#46, Nov 29,99) 2:1
|*********************(#41, Nov 22,99)
|******************(#36, Nov 14,99)
|***************(#29, Nov 07,99)
700 |*************(#25, Nov 02,99

|_____________($261, Jan 24,00)
|_______________($297, Jan 17,00)
|_______________($299, Jan 10,00)
|_______________________($463, Jan 03,00)
|________________________($488, Dec 27,99)
|_________________________($491, Dec 20,99)
|________________________($483, Dec 13,99)
|________________________($484, Dec 06,99)
|_________________________($495, Nov 29,99)
|_________________________($497, Nov 22,99)
|_________________________($504, Nov 14,99)
|_________________________($505, Nov 07,99)
|_________________________($505, Nov 02,99)
|**********************************(#68, Jan 24,00)
|**********************************(#68, Jan 17,00)
|********************************(#63, Jan 10,00)
|********************************(#64, Jan 03,00)
|*********************************(#65, Dec 27,99)
|*********************************(#66, Dec 20,99)
|**********************************(#67, Dec 13,99)
|**********************************(#68, Dec 06,99)
|*********************************(#65, Nov 29,99)
|********************************(#64, Nov 22,99)
|******************************(#60, Nov 14,99)
|**************************(#53, Nov 07,99)
650 |**************************(#53, Nov 02,99

|___________($216, Jan 24,00)
|____________($247, Jan 17,00)
|____________($249, Jan 10,00)
|___________________($371, Jan 03,00)
|___________________($385, Dec 27,99)
|___________________($389, Dec 20,99)
|___________________($381, Dec 13,99)
|___________________($382, Dec 06,99)
|____________________($392, Nov 29,99)
|____________________($394, Nov 22,99)
|____________________($401, Nov 14,99)
|____________________($404, Nov 07,99)
|____________________($404, Nov 02,99)
|****************************************(#77, Jan 24,00)
|****************************************(#77, Jan 17,00)
|**************************************(#74, Jan 10,00)
|*************************************(#71, Jan 03,00)
|*************************************(#72, Dec 27,99)
|*************************************(#73, Dec 20,99)
|************************************(#72, Dec 13,99)
|************************************(#72, Dec 06,99)
|***********************************(#69, Nov 29,99)
|**********************************(#67, Nov 22,99)
|********************************(#64, Nov 14,99)
|****************************(#56, Nov 07,99)
600 |****************************(#55, Nov 02,99

|_________($189, Jan 24,00)
|__________($198, Jan 17,00)
|__________($199, Jan 10,00)
|____________($243, Jan 03,00)
|____________($249, Dec 27,99)
|_____________($253, Dec 20,99)
|_____________($253, Dec 13,99)
|_____________($253, Dec 06,99)
|_____________($254, Nov 29,99)
|_____________($255, Nov 22,99)
|_____________($256, Nov 14,99)
|_____________($257, Nov 07,99)
|_____________($257, Nov 02,99)
|************************************(#70, Jan 24,00)
|**************************************(#73, Jan 17,00)
|*************************************(#72, Jan 10,00)
|************************************(#70, Jan 03,00)
|*************************************(#72, Dec 27,99)
|*************************************(#73, Dec 20,99)
|*************************************(#74, Dec 13,99)
|***********************************(#69, Dec 06,99)
|**********************************(#68, Nov 29,99)
|**********************************(#68, Nov 22,99)
|*********************************(#65, Nov 14,99)
|*******************************(#61, Nov 07,99)
550 |******************************(#60, Nov 02,99)

|_________($171, Jan 24,00)
|_________($173, Jan 17,00)
|_________($175, Jan 10,00)
|_________($173, Jan 03,00)
|_________($177, Dec 27,99)
|_________($178, Dec 20,99)
|_________($183, Dec 13,99)
|_________($186, Dec 06,99)
|__________($193, Nov 29,99)
|__________($194, Nov 22,99)
|__________($197, Nov 14,99)
|__________($197, Nov 07,99)
|__________($197, Nov 02,99)
|*************************(#49, Jan 24,00)
|**************************(#52, Jan 17,00)
|***************************(#54, Jan 10,00)
|****************************(#55, Jan 03,00)
|****************************(#56, Dec 27,99)
|*****************************(#58, Dec 20,99)
|*************************(#50, Dec 13,99)
|*************************(#50, Dec 06,99)
|**************************(#52, Nov 29,99)
|**************************(#51, Nov 22,99)
|**********************(#43, Nov 14,99)
|********************(#39, Nov 07,99)
500 |*********************(#41, Nov 02,99)
|-------------------------------------------------------------


Goutama