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

To: niek who wrote (20796)	10/4/2006 1:25:22 AM
From: etchmeister	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 25522

PSC raises fund for expansion Latest news MOPS, October 3; Esther Lam, DigiTimes.com [Wednesday 4 October 2006] Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) announced that it will issue a total of 480-600 million new shares in the form of common shares and GDR (global depositary receipt) to fund its 12-inch wafer fab expansion, equipment procurement and capacity expansion, according to a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE). Referring to the company's share price, a Chinese-language Commercial Times report suggested that PSC may raise a total of US$31-38 million. PSC's share price closed at NT$21.10 on October 3. The paper said PSC will mainly utilize the raised funds for the second phase of expansion at its 12-inch Fab 12M.

To: niek who wrote (20796)	10/4/2006 10:48:50 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 25522

INTERVIEW - Hynix expects favourable DRAM market in 2007 Wed Oct 4, 2006 1:49 PM IST By Rhee So-eui and Marie-France Han SEOUL (Reuters) - Hynix Semiconductor Inc. said on Wednesday it expected prices of its mainstay computer memory chips to post a smaller-than-expected fall this year and forecast a favourable market next year. Prices of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) could fall by less than 20 percent this year, much slower than the 30 percent range it had forecast early this year, O.C. Kwon, senior vice president of strategic planning, said in an interview. Hynix is already feeling rising demand for memory chips ahead of the launch of Microsoft Corp.'s much-awaited new operating system, Windows Vista, Kwon said. "Between limited supply and expected demand growth from Windows Vista, 2007 will at the minimum be a favourable one for DRAM," Kwon said. He said prices of NAND flash memory chips could also post a more moderate decline in 2007 after tumbling more than 60 percent in 2006. Prices of DRAM chips, used mostly in computers, have been stronger than expected in recent months with PC sales rising as parents bought their children computers before they returned to school. NAND prices also recovered recently after freefalling earlier in the year, as higher-density NAND chips are now more affordable for makers of digital music players and cameras. "In 3-5 years, the (global) NAND market could grow to the level of DRAM's," Kwon said, revealing optimism despite concerns about the lack of a clear "killer application" to fuel such growth. Global NAND revenue is currently about a third of DRAM's. Kwon said growth in NAND supply would likely slow down in coming years as the technology becomes more difficult to apply. In the April-June quarter, Hynix ranked third in DRAM sales behind Samsung Electronics and Germany's Qimonda. It was also the third-largest NAND maker, trailing Samsung and Toshiba Corp. of Japan. CHINA PLANT Hynix is set to launch next week a new DRAM production line using more-efficient 12-inch silicon wafers in its Chinese joint venture plant with STMicroelectronics, Europe's largest chip maker. Kwon said Hynix would make additional investment for the plant with an eye toward producing NAND flash chips next year. The $2 billion joint plant firmly targets China, the world's fastest-growing semiconductor market where Hynix stands as No. 1 DRAM supplier with about 40 percent market share. Hynix aims to produce 18,000 wafer units per month from the latest line in the plant, on top of an already-existing DRAM production line with 50,000 units capacity, Kwon said. He said Hynix is also working to expand its facility in its main South Korean plant by upgrading a standard 8-inch wafer line to one using 12-inch wafers. As part of its fund-raising efforts, Hynix has raised $771 million in funds through a $300 million new share sale in June and $471 million convertible bond sales last week. Like other chip makers, the company has huge investment requirements of about $4 billion every year. While Hynix has enough cash flow to fund its investment in general, Kwon said the company could consider raising funds from the capital market again at a later date when necessary. "If there's an opportunity and demand in the market, we can consider raising funds in the market." Salvaged by local banks during the industry's worst downturn in 2000-2001, Hynix has turned around to boast one of the highest margins among makers and ended its debt rescheduling last year. Hynix is expected to post 1.61 trillion won in net profit in 2006, according to Reuters Estimates. The forecast indicates the chip maker will earn 994 billion won in the second half, up from a 614 billion won profit in the first half. Hynix shares rallied recently, touching its record high since 2003 re-listing on Sept. 19. Kwon said Hynix will remain focused on memory chip business and expand its alliance with global makers to stay ahead of the technology curve, declining to discuss names of potential partners. © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.