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: Cary Salsberg who wrote (1009)	5/17/2005 11:35:15 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 43297

ASML says entry into LCD steppers still uncertain Tue May 17, 2005 11:31 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO, May 17 (Reuters) - Dutch chip equipment maker ASML (ASML.AS: Quote, Profile, Research) (ASML.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday that two key customers had embraced its technology to make liquid crystal displays (LCDs), but that this was no guarantee it would enter that market. "At the moment it's still a 50/50. We will not do something foolish for ego purposes," Chief Executive Eric Meurice said at an investors conference organised by JP Morgan. "The good news is that the two customers in question -- LG Philips LCD (034220.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) -- have recognized that our mouse trap is ... good and they have put proposals for co-funding of the research and development and the proposal for commitment of volume," he said. "(But) the bad news is the level of commitment of co-funding and commitment on units is we assume not good enough to meet the other two targets: dilution to earnings and return on investment," Meurice said. "We are going one more time at it in discussion," he said, adding that his firm will take a decision before July. Canon (7751.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Nikon (7731.T: Quote, Profile, Research) , ASML's main competitors in the chip stepper business, are currently the only two companies that make machines to produce LCD screens.

To: Cary Salsberg who wrote (1009)	5/22/2005 2:04:04 PM
From: marginnayan	Respond to of 43297

Two Picks In Semiconductor Processing And Materials 05.20.05, 2:50 PM ET Assessing the semiconductor processing and materials space, Adams Harkness expects a weaker second half for equipment orders, as opposed to the conventional outlook pointing to a recovery. "While the book-to-bill improved slightly month-over-month primarily due to modest declines in billing numbers, we believe bookings are the key here. Front-end bookings were flat month-over-month. We believe these numbers would not be a surprise to investors given the commentary from industry bellwether Applied Materials (nasdaq: AMAT - news - people ) this week." The research outfit thinks that second-half front-end bookings will be weaker than the first half, reasoning that "based on industry data points and the fact that spending patterns at some of the largest capital expenditure spenders, such as Samsung, Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (nyse: TSM - news - people ), have been first-half loaded." Adams Harkness likes two stocks in the arena: "We recommend Ultratech (nasdaq: UTEK - news - people ) among the capex-sensitive names, as this is one of the few equipment companies that we believe is still on track to have a stronger second half. ATMI (nasdaq: ATMI - news - people ) remains our favorite materials play, as we believe worldwide wafer starts would improve from the June quarter onwards." Ultratech is rated at "buy" and ATMI at "strong buy."

To: Cary Salsberg who wrote (1009)	7/13/2005 12:53:49 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 43297

ASML puts LCD equipment market entry on hold EE Times (07/13/2005 11:50 AM EDT) LONDON — Lithography equipment vendor ASML Holding NV said it has decided not enter the market for LCD production equipment in the near future, as it has better investment opportunities elsewhere. In a conference call with financial analysts Eric Meurice, president and chief executive officer said this was partly due to market uncertainties and partly because ASML (Veldhoven, The Netherlands) has other opportunities to pursue. "We will monitor the volume curve [for LCD equipment] and continue to do the basic work in R&D as we have done over last two years or so," Meurice told analysts. When asked why ASML was not entering the LCD equipment market Meurice said it was a matter of weighing risk, investment and potential return. "We will use the funds to do some other things. These will create growth for the company over next two or three years," Meurice said. He added that it was a matter of competitive advantage that he shouldn't reveal the nature of these activities.