To: Crossy who wrote (1836 ) 2/4/2002 11:01:44 AM From: Return to Sender Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 95622 From Briefing.com: 9:00AM : The news/activity in the semi sector this morning is encouraging with several upgrades noted along with positive industry news. Goldman Sachs, DB Alex Brown and Soundview have upgraded several names in this arena with Robertson Stephens and Thomas Weisel upgrading Micron (MU) following a positive analyst meeting last Friday. Also, the Semiconductor Industry Assoc says that December worldwide sales fell 4%, consistent with seasonal patterns; says that Q1 sales should be flat to slightly higher, another indication of recovery given that Q1 is typically flat to down. 8:57AM Soundview upgrades Semi Equip co's : Sources are telling us that Soundview upgrades the following co's to STRONG BUY from Buy: AMAT, KLAC, LRCX, NANO, NVLS, and RTEC. Separately, Goldman Sachs (see 7:37 comment) and DB Alex. Brown (7:13) upgraded numerous co's in the group as well. 7:36AM Goldman ups semi equipment; sees sequential order growth : Goldman Sachs upgrades the semi equipment sector to Overweight from Market Weight, cites belief that orders likely to rise sequentially for next several qtrs and that market will discount the majority of the cycle's upside in first few qtrs of improvement. Firm upgrades ASML, ATMI, KLAC, and TER to RECOMMENDED LIST; NVLS to OUTPERFORM. 7:13AM DBAB ups semi equipment group : DB Alex. Brown raises rating on the Semi Equipment group, and upgrades AMAT, TER, and LTXX to STRONG BUY from Buy; the next two qtrs are likely to surprise to the upside, with checks indicating firmer backlogs into Q2, increasing shipment and order pull-ins (particularly foundry/DRAM), significant uptick in component buys from tester OEMs, and 300mm shipment slots focusing on Sept/Oct. Maintains Buy ratings on NVLS and BRKS.finance.yahoo.com Sorry about the TSEM - TSM error on my part. Will do more due diligence tonight. I sold my AMAT at 40.25. Anyone left to upgrade the semi equipment group now? Looking to buy back at 43.75. RtS