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 : Cymer (CYMI) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Maxwell who wrote (8027)	11/4/1997 5:26:00 PM
From: BillyG	Respond to of 25960

Semiconductor equipment growth is forecast to rise next year. The photolithography segment will show the greatest growth in both percentage and absolute dollar terms............... techweb.cmp.com A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc. Story posted at 12:30 p.m. EST/9:30 a.m. PST, 11/4/97 Fab gear to grow 13.7% in '98 WILLIAMSBURG, Va.--Worldwide spending on wafer fab equipment will grow 13.7% in 1998 compared to an increase of 8.2% this year, predicted The Information Network here today. "Quarterly revenue reports by leading equipment manufacturers are consistent with our findings that 1997 should be an up year, with revenues growing 8.2%," said Robert N. Castellano, president of the Williamsburg-based market research firm. "In the latest quarter, IPEC, Novellus and KLA-Tencor reported revenue increases of 74.5%, 27.5% and 19.5%, respectively. The economic recovery in semiconductor equipment is under way in the U.S. and the rest of the world and continuing through 1998." Overall, the market researcher is basing its capital equipment outlook on improvements in consumer confidence and spending as well as healthy economies in industrial regions. The outlook for 1998 is continued strong demand for PCs as system costs continue to drop. "The ubiquity of the PC as a portable tool for mobile and personal communications will have a positive effect on manufacturers of microprocessors, controllers, memory, and ASICs," said Castellano. Consequentially, he expects semiconductor makers to increase their capital spending next year. In major fab equipment categories, The Information Network is forecasting: Plasma etching revenue growth of 10.9% in 1998, reaching $3.77 billion compared to $3.40 billion in 1997; Dry stripper sales increase of 7.3% to $471 million compared to $439 million in 1997; PVD growth of 10.9% to $2.23 billion in 1998 versus $2.10 billion this year; CVD revenue increase of 11.4% next year, pushing sales to $2.34 billion compared to $2.10 billion in 1997; Step-and-repeat/scan lithography tools growth of 18.3% to $6.60 billion in 1998, up from $5.58 billion this year; Rapid thermal processing (RTP) sales increase of 12.3% next year to $228 million compared to $203 million in 1997; and, Resist processing spending to grow 11.8% in 1998 to $1.89 billion compared to $1.69 billion in this year.