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.

Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Joseph Beltran who wrote (36279)	8/4/2000 9:58:51 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 70976

Thanks to Ian for finding this: I missed it: semibiznews.com ASM International remains optimistic about chip equipment demand Semiconductor Business News (08/04/00, 01:58:13 PM EDT) BILTHOVEN, the Netherlands -- With stock markets still jumpy about demand for chip-production equipment, ASM International N.V. here today reiterated its earnings outlook, saying that the company remains optimistic about sales in the final months of 2000. ASM International, a supplier of equipment for wafer fabs and backend chip-packaging plants, reissued statements made last week when it issued results for the second quarter. "We expect that net sales in the third quarter of 2000 will exceed those achieved in the second quarter of 2000 and, based on quote activity and current bookings momentum, we are optimistic about the level of net sales in the fourth quarter of this year," he company said. For the second quarter, ASM International posted record sales of record 255.4 million euros ($240 million) and net earnings of 27.0 million euros ($25.4 million) in the period (see July 24 story). The outlook was reissued by the Dutch company after one of its rivals, Kulicke & Soffa Industries Inc., said orders had been delayed by customers because of a lack of plant space and a shortage of processed wafers (see Aug. 3 story). Fearing that the semiconductor boom might be fading, investors began dumping stock investments in equipment suppliers, but some analysts say concerns are misplaced. Some industry observers believe backend assembly plants are waiting for more wafer fab capacity to come on stream. During an investor conference call recently, Rinse de Jong, chief financial officer at ASM International, said, "There is to our knowledge no change in the trend. Bookings remain strong and so is the quote activity. In fact, our main worry is to meet the demand that we see and to expand our capacity sowe can ship the forecasted quantities in 2001 and 2002."