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Technology Stocks : Kulicke and Soffa -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: semi engineer who wrote (2239)	12/3/1997 9:44:00 AM
From: Darin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5482

To All, latest from SEMI on capital spending for 97, 98 and 99... looks pretty good considering all of the recent worries... North American IC capital spending surges while Asia cools off, says survey By Jack Robertson CHIBA, Japan --The global chip-production equipment market should grow 7.7% to $28.3 billion in 1997, according to the latest industry consensus survey conducted by Semiconductor Equipment and Material International (SEMI). The trade group here today presented its new equipment procurement outlook during SEMI's Semicon Japan conference. The current outlook for growth is in contrast with SEMI's earlier forecast, which showed a slight decline this year, said Stanley Myers, president of the trade group. Myers said the 1998 outlook now shows an 11.6% increase in capital equipment spending by chip makers, pushing the market to $31.6 billion. SEMI's industry consensus survey shows the equipment market will increase by 17.5% in 1999 to $37.1 billion. By the year 2000, semiconductor capital equipment markets will hit $45.5 billion, with a 22% increase in spending that year, according to the latest survey by SEMI. The survey, however, showed that Japanese equipment shipments would actually decline 16% in 1997 to $6.6 billion due to the slowdown in capital spending. Japan, however, is expected to rebound next year for a 10% gain to $7.3 billion, and increase 14.9% in 1999 to $8.4 billion. The revised SEMI forecast hiked the estimate for North American shipments beyond earlier projections due to booming sales that will reach a total $9.3 billion this year--a hefty 24% jump over 1996 revenues totals. Capital equipment shipments in North America are expected to rise 15.9% to $10.7 billion in 1998, followed by a 17.5% increase to $12.6 billion in 1999, and another 22.3% rise to $15.4 billion in 2000. Myers said the outlook for capital spending in Asian--outside Japan--shows a 21% increase to $9.2 billion in 1997, followed by 9% growth to $10 billion in 1998. He said he believed the region would not be impacted greatly by the current economic crisis hitting some Asian countries. "Much of the semiconductor equipment being installed in the Asian fabs is for technology upgrades, which will go forward in any event," he said. Wafer processing equipment revenues are expected to grow 5% this year to $19.5 billion. In 1998, chip makers are expected to buy $21.7 billion worth of fab gear, a 9% increase over 1997 levels, according to the SEMI survey. In 1999, fab equipment shipments will grow 20.3% to $25.7 billion. In the test equipment segment, revenues are expected to grow 8.5% in 1997 to $5.2 billion, followed by a 10.2% increase to $5.7 billion and a 15.3% rise to $6.6 billion in 1999, according to the new SEMI industry consensus.

To: semi engineer who wrote (2239)	12/3/1997 12:30:00 PM
From: HoodBuilder	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 5482

Follow up to recent KLIC notice to vendors... Sources advise that KLIC is attempting to move (40) 8000 series bonders and (60) 1488's every week in the quarter. The suppliers were told to be prepared to supply product to support that pace. Next Q things will be even more robust and volume will increase beyond current levels based on current backlog and orderflow. This is from a rather reliable source. Of course the Jan report will tell the tale. Still very long KLIC. Nibbling at July Calls