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

To: Gottfried who wrote (13603)	2/26/2004 9:39:49 AM
From: Return to Sender	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 95397

From Briefing.com: 8:34AM NVLS target lowered to $34 at BofA 32.83: Banc of America lowers its target on Novellus Systems to $34 from $38 after its mid-qtr update last night. The co increased order guidance, but the new guidance was in-line with the firm's estimates. Even with the increased guidance, the co's order growth lags numbers being reported by other semi-cap cos. Management again talked about a more responsible spending behavior from semiconductor companies in the current cycle, which translates into more linear growth for equipment orders. The firm remains concerned about order momentum stalling in the second half of the year. Also, the firm does not see any near term catalysts to move the stock higher, and would stay at the sidelines at this point. 7:56AM United Micro inks agreement with Silicon Integrated Systems for foundry -- Digitimes 5.20: Digitimes reports that United Microelectronics on February 26 announced that it has inked an agreement with Silicon Integrated Systems to acquire SiS foundry subsidiary SiS Microelectronics. The deal will give UMC more capacity in a cost effective way to meet its customers' growing demand for capacity. According to the article, UMC currently runs at 100% utilization. While building a new fab possibly requires $1 bln, UMC will acquire SiS Microelectronics for just over $300 mln. UMC will issue 357 million new shares to fund the acquisition. RMBS: FTC likely will file appeal in 10 days -- Dow Jones (33.95 ) Memory-chip makers could face charges -- WSJ The Wall Street Journal reports that memory-chip makers could face charges that they engaged in a global conspiracy to cut production and raise prices before a sharp price spike two years ago. According to the article, newly disclosed e-mail and testimony from industry executives show what prosecutors believe was a global conspiracy among some of the world's largest memory-chip makers. Prosecutors are expected to seek criminal price-fixing charges against some chip makers, while others are weighing whether to enter plea deals and risk heavy fines, lawyers close to the case said. Companies that have disclosed they are under investigation include the market leader, Samsung Electronics Co., Hynix Semiconductor Inc, Micron Technology Inc., and Infineon Technologies AG, among others. Early Research Calls Smith Barney upgrades NSM and UPS to Buy from Hold, while cutting SCHL to Hold from Buy... Merrill Lynch upgrades RL to Buy from Neutral... Deutsche upgrades SHFL to Buy from Hold... UBS upgrades TOY to Buy from Neutral... JP Morgan downgrades CENX to Neutral from Overweight... Piper Jaffray cuts CRAY to Mkt Perform from Outperform... Wachovia upgrades DRI to Outperform from Mkt Perform... JMP Sec upgrades FDRY to Mkt Outperform from Mkt Perform... Morgan Stanley cuts CHTR, CEI, HIW to Underweight from Equal Weight, while upping UDR to Overweight from Equal Weight...Thomas Weisel initiates coverage on AMAT, KLAC, NVLS with Peer Perform and UTEK with Outperform rating... Bear Stearns starts WWCA with an Outperform, tgt $30. finance.yahoo.com