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Technology Stocks : Applied Materials No-Politics Thread (AMAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Donald Wennerstrom who wrote (2188)	8/8/2002 1:32:54 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 25522

FWIW, keep in mind that two of SSB's top picks last year were AOL and TYC.....so buyer beware:-) Seriously, AMAT is a focused company with very conservative management. One of the reasons I have not lost too much sleep during this horrendous summer. Regards, Brian

To: Donald Wennerstrom who wrote (2188)	8/8/2002 3:33:03 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 25522

Semico lowers foundry forecast, but remains bullish By Mark LaPedus Semiconductor Business News (08/08/02 01:59 p.m. EST) PHOENIX -- Semico Research Corp. here has slightly lowered its silicon foundry forecast for 2002, but the market research firm is still bullish about the industry this year and beyond. The Phoenix-based company now believes that the silicon foundry market will grow 31% in 2002 over 2001. Earlier this year, it predicted that the business would grow 35% or so in 2002 (see Jan. 15 story ). Joanne Itow, who tracks the market for Semico, is sticking to her current forecast for 2003, saying the foundry business will grow by 34% over 2002. “I am still sticking to my above 30% forecast [for 2002],” Itow said. “I am sticking to my forecast even though everyone is saying that the market is down in the dumps,” she told SBN. The Semico analyst predicted that overall wafer demand and fab utilization rates will remain steady or climb in spite of a possible slowdown in the second half of this year. At present, fab utilization rates among the major foundry players is around 70%, she said. “Utilization rates will go up from where they are now,” she added. At the same time, however, there are mixed signals in the marketplace. Last month, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. said profit increased 41% sequentially in the second quarter, to $279 million, as utilization hit 85%. But the company said third-quarter wafer shipments would decline by at least a few percent as average chip prices contract by 5% from the second quarter. At the same time, TSMC also cut its capital spending for 2002 (see July 25 story ). Today, TSMC said net sales for July 2002 totaled about $400 million in July. This was a drop of about 13.3% compared to June 2002 but a jump of 57.3% compared with July 2001(see today's story ). Rival United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) grew its sales revenue and net profits in the second quarter of 2002, but the company still took the opportunity to announce a trimming of its 2002 capital expenditures (see July 30 story ).

To: Donald Wennerstrom who wrote (2188)	8/8/2002 8:35:24 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25522

Teradyne to close California plant, cut staff BOSTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Teradyne Inc. (NYSE:TER - News) on Thursday said it plans to lay off 125 people employed at its San Diego circuit board plant in response to a downturn in demand that has crushed the business of semiconductor equipment makers. The company filed its intention with the state of California to cease production at the facility, and lay off the 125 people by the end of the year. "The depth of the recent downturn has been unprecedented," Richard Schneider, president of the company's connection systems division, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, we are not seeing a significant recovery in the second half of 2002 that will enable us to support the San Diego capacity." Teradyne, the dominant maker of semiconductor test equipment, said it acquired the San Diego facility in August 2000. biz.yahoo.com