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 : ASML Holding NV -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SemiBull who wrote (861)	10/28/2003 9:25:01 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 43481

ASML rises on TSMC capex plans, industry outlook Tuesday October 28, 3:35 am ET AMSTERDAM, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Shares in Dutch chip equipment maker ASML (Amsterdam:ASML.AS - News; NasdaqNM:ASML - News) rose more than three percent in early trade on Tuesday after a key client said it planned a big increase in capital expenditure next year. Morris Chang, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Taiwan:2330.TW - News), the world's largest contract chip maker, told an international investors' conference the firm planned a "large scale" increase in capital spending from this year's figure of $1.2 billion. "The market clearly likes this news and that is why the share is rising," one Dutch trader said. Traders added that ASML, up 3.9 percent by 0832 GMT, got a further shot in the arm after industry trade group World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) raised its 2003 forecast for worldwide chip sales and said it sees even stronger growth in 2004. The news also helped ASML's mid-cap peer ASM International (Amsterdam:ASMI.AS - News), which rose 3.3 percent.

To: SemiBull who wrote (861)	11/12/2003 7:58:52 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 43481

UPDATE - ASML to detail cost cuts, new chip technology Wednesday November 12, 4:33 am ET By Lucas van Grinsven, European Technology Correspondent (Adds analysts comment, share price) AMSTERDAM, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Dutch chip equipment maker ASML (Amsterdam:ASML.AS - News; NasdaqNM:ASML - News) said on Wednesday it would brief analysts on achievements in cost reductions as well as advances in new chip-making technologies in a meeting on Thursday. "ASML will review accomplishments from cost-cutting measures in operations and suppliers' improvements in cost and flexibility," ASML said in a statement. The world's largest maker of semiconductor lithography machines, which map out electronic circuits on silicon wafers, this year started a cost-reduction programme in which some 2,000 jobs will be lost, some 30 percent of total staff. After the savings, ASML should be profitable with quarterly sales of just 33 lithography machines, which sell for an average $10 million apiece -- the price of private jet. The firm has been struggling with the chip industry's worst downturn, caused by overcapacity following the technology boom in the late 1990s, which has forced chip makers to cut investments in new factories and new lithography machines. In both the second and third quarters it sold just 28 new machines. Its order book, however, has been improving as a result of recovering demand for chip-hungry products such as mobile phones and computers. Global chip shipments are now back at the peak levels of the year 2000, recent market statistics showed. SHARES ON THE RISE Analysts said the first results of a recovery could be seen as early as this quarter, and ASML could give clues on Thursday. "We believe ASML is seeing better-than-expected fourth-quarter orders. We are raising our fourth-quarter new systems bookings forecast to 45 units from 38," JP Morgan analysts said in a note, reiterating their "overweight" investment advice. ASML shares rose 1.6 percent to 15.74 euros by 0920 GMT, close to last week's 15-month high and some 200 percent above a five-year low hit in October 2002. The DJ Stoxx Eurotech index was up one percent, 80 percent above last year's lows. The shares could have a fair value of 19 euros, based on peak earnings of one euro per share, if ASML indicates it can improve margins beyond market expectations, Goldman Sachs analyst Matthew Gehl said. He rates ASML shares "neutral". ASML also said it will give more details about a technology called immersion lithography. Immersion lithography replaces the air between the silicon wafer and the lens with fluid to improve depth of focus and extend wavelengths to lower nodes, resulting in even thinner circuits and smaller chips. ASML started testing this technology on its current lithography systems this year and said market researchers estimated the market for these immersion tools to grow to $230 million a year by 2005 from zero today. The total semiconductor lithography market is estimated to be around $4 billion this year and could rise to over $7 billion in 2005. ASML, which competes with Japan's Nikon Corp (Tokyo:7731.T - News) and Canon Inc (Tokyo:7751.T - News), has customers including the world's largest chip maker Intel Corp (NasdaqNM:INTC - News) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Taiwan:2330.TW - News), the world's largest contract chip maker.