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.

Technology Stocks : Semi Equipment Analysis -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Donald Wennerstrom who wrote (7903)	12/29/2002 9:04:40 PM
From: Cary Salsberg	Respond to of 95526

OT RE: "On top of everything else..." A few weeks ago, the San Jose Mercury News had an article about the potential danger of Soviet tactical nuclear devices falling into the hands of terrorists. In the picture, they were small and looked very portable. What popped into my mind was the "State of the Union" address. It seems to me that all the important members of each branch of our government are in attendance at the Capitol Building. Who isn't there? I thought that a short term investor should be out of long positions going into the night of the address.

To: Donald Wennerstrom who wrote (7903)	12/30/2002 8:57:05 AM
From: Return to Sender	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 95526

Global chip sales growth slows in November - WSTS Monday December 30, 8:30 am ET By Lucas van Grinsven biz.yahoo.com (Adds analyst, SIA comments, updates index levels) AMSTERDAM, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Growth in global chip sales slowed to 1.3 percent in November from October, the industry's main research group said on Monday, and investors are bracing for even weaker trading ahead. Total November sales were $12.68 billion, but growth slowed from a 1.8 percent monthly rise in October, the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) group said in its monthly report. Chip sales traditionally accelerate in the run-up to the end-of-year holidays on the back of strong demand by electronics manufacturers for goods from computers and cellphones to toys and shavers. This year, however, demand from businesses and consumers for the two categories which consume most of the world's chips, computers and mobile phones, have remained slack. Annually, compared with the same month of November a year earlier, global sales climbed 19.6 percent, slightly slower than the 19.9 percent growth measured in October. Comparisons with the same months last year look favourable, but only because the semiconductor industry then experienced its worst decline ever. Chip sales growth could slow further if early indications are correct that consumers have become more cautious since a relatively buoyant Thanksgiving in late November. The U.S. retail sector now expects its worst end-of-year holiday sales season in 30 years as a sluggish economy, a weak job market and the threat of war with Iraq dampen consumer confidence and spending. "The WSTS numbers for November are historical data. Key is what's happened in December. We've seen weak retail reports this month, and just before Christmas (U.S. chip maker) Cypress (NYSE:CY - News) warned about weak wireless chip sales," said one London-based analyst at a major investment bank. The European FTSE semiconductor index (^FTTXSC - News), 32 percent lower in December in anticipation of yet another delay of the sector's recovery, was down 0.2 percent at 164.32 points on Monday, roughly in line with a flat DJ Stoxx European technology index (Zurich:^SX8P - News). EUROPE STRONG Regional differences showed resilience of European chip sales while the Americas and Japan hovered around zero growth and Asia Pacific was in line with the global average. Asia Pacific ex-Japan, the region where most chips are manufactured, rose 1.3 percent in November from October to $4.62 billion, slightly faster than the one percent growth in October. In Europe, where the chip sector is focused on consumer electronics, cars, mobile phones and other categories which are not exposed to the depressed computer sector, monthly sales grew 5.8 percent to $2.60 billion, down slightly from 6.2 percent in October. The U.S. Semiconductor Trade Association (SIA) singled out wireless chips as the driving force behind the sales growth in November. "The wireless sector continues to be the strongest single market," it said in a statement. The SIA issued no forecast for December. SIA and its European equivalent ESIA publish the monthly sales statistics on behalf of the WSTS, using three-month moving averages. In the Americas and Japan, November sales declined by 0.8 percent and 0.6 percent respectively compared with October, down from 0.5 and 0.8 percent growth a month earlier.

To: Donald Wennerstrom who wrote (7903)	1/2/2003 7:58:39 PM
From: Return to Sender	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 95526

CLOSING WRAP-UP, Jan. 2, Jody Osborne Thursday January 2, 7:30 pm ET biz.yahoo.com New Year gets off to stellar start, with major market indices garnering impressive gains. The Dow (^DJI) rose 265.89 points, or 3.19 percent, to close at 8,607.52. The S&P 500 (^SPX) saw similar gains, tacking on 3.32 percent. The Nasdaq (^IXIC) moved to 1,384.85, a gain of 3.69 percent. Volume picked up from the holiday numbers, with the NYSE trading 1.22 billion shares and the Naz turning over 1.26 billion. Market breadth was sharply positive at 25-to-7 and 23-to10 on the Big Board and Naz respectively. Though there remains plenty for traders to worry about, they instead focused on an unexpectedly strong manufacturing report this morning. The ISM Index rose to 54.7 percent in December, moving above 50 for the first time in four months. This news trumped a weak jobless claims figure, with traders preferring to concentrate on the positive today. In sector action, networking stocks saw the strongest gains, with chip stocks not far behind. The AMEX Networking Index (^NWX) rallied 7.77 percent, taking the index back above its 50-day moving average. Even shares of Cisco (CSCO) tallied a 4.12 percent gain despite having its earnings estimates lowered at UBS . The Philly Semiconductor Index (^SOXX) added 6.68 percent, but even today's strength couldn't take the SOX above resistance. Only two components of the SOX rose less than five percent, with Advanced Micro (AMD) leading the charge by gaining 8.51 percent. Goldman Sachs had negative news to report this morning when it announced the results of a technology survey. Goldman reported that a survey of technology firms showed that spending might fall about one percent in 2003. This was down from a previous survey that concluded that spending would grow around 2 to 3 percent. Goldman noted that sector valuations continue to be lofty compared to the S&P 500. Overall, this doesn't bode well for the tech sector, as IT spending is an important part of most companies' revenues. Overall, I would be cautious buying into today's large advances. Though it is nice to see some strength, volume was still on the light side and nothing has changed with the economy or with problems overseas. In fact, traders might want to use this strength to enter bearish strategies, as earnings warnings season is about to start and could lead to lower stock prices down the road. Jody Osborne Senior Staff Writer & Options Strategist Optionetics.com ~ Your Options Education Site