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To: unclewest who wrote (1883)	2/6/2000 11:22:00 PM
From: Ron	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10714

From Bloomberg: Durham, North Carolina, Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Cree Inc. shares have risen on optimism that the company's blue light- emitting diodes used in cellular phones and car displays could replace the simple light bulb within 10 years, analysts say. The Durham, North Carolina-based company's shares have risen 48 percent since Monday, when Cree began demonstrating its chips at technology conferences, renewing interest from investors. The shares rose 19, or 16 percent, to 139 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Cree makes semiconductors that produce light in devices like traffic lights, neon signs and car dashboard displays. The chips convert electricity directly to light without generating heat, which is much more efficient than traditional light sources and would save money for consumers. ``A light bulb would last six or seven years,' said Hans Mosesmann, a Prudential Securities analyst, who has a ``strong buy' rating on the stock. ``Everybody is generally excited about the prospects for generating white light.' John Lau, a semiconductor analyst for Wit SoundView, said Cree's diodes are used in Nokia and Panasonic cell phones, and in dashboards for Audis and Volkswagens. Previously these dashboards would use light bulbs that would often have to be replaced. ``The extra cost to buy a light bulb would be made up for in one year in savings to the electrical bill,' said Lau, referring to the higher cost of such a light bulb. ``So within a year, you'd get your money back and still have many years left.' Lau said Cree ``can't make chips fast enough,' and many of its customers are on a waiting list. The company had $60.1 million in sales for the fiscal year ended June 1999.