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: sepku who wrote (11398)	12/11/1997 6:04:00 PM
From: BillyG	Respond to of 25960

Chip sales hit 1997 high in October By J. Robert Lineback SAN JOSE -- Steady growth in semiconductor revenues continued in October with worldwide chip sales reaching nearly $12 billion, the largest monthly total since March 1996, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association here today. The SIA's monthly sales report shows semiconductor revenues growing 12% to $11.99 billion in October, compared to $10.29 billion in the same month last year. In March 1996, chip sales totaled $12.11 billion just as the industry was beginning to slip into a year-long recession, which ended about six months ago, based on the SIA's data. "With the exception of Japan, global sales continued to build upon the momentum of a growth trend that surfaced at the end of the first quarter," said Doug Andrey, SIA director of information systems and finance. "Japan's sales computed in U.S. dollars, were crimped by the depreciation of the yen against the dollar." The SIA said October semiconductor sales increased 1.4% over revenues in September, which totaled $11.83 billion, based on the billing report's three-month moving average. Industry and financial analyst have recently expressed concern about the slowing of month-to-month growth rates in chips sales, raising questions about the staying power of the 1997 turnaround. The new report shows no clear signs of industry weakness in the Asia Pacific region, which recently has been hit by economic turmoil. However, October's growth rates in Asia were slightly lower than they were in September. For example, Asia's chip sales grew only 1.7% to $2.73 billion in October when compared September's $2.69 billion total. In the last billings report, September's sales were 3.9% higher than chip revenues in August. But still, the Asia Pacific market led other regions in year-to-year growth rates. Asia's chip revenues were 21.4% higher in October than they were a year ago, based on the SIA's three-month moving average. "The Asia Pacific market remains strong despite the recent currency crisis in Korea and other Asian countries," Andrey said. "Over the long term, demand for semiconductor products should continue to expand in all markets, including Asia Pacific." Chip sales in the Americas totaled $3.98 billion in October, a 15.4% increase over $3.45 billion in October 1996, said the SIA. In Europe, semiconductor revenues grew 13.3% to $2.53 billion compared to $2.23 billion in October 1996, said the billing report. Japan's $2.75 billion chip revenues totaled $2.77 billion in October, a decline of 0.8% from the $2.19 billion recorded last year. A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc. Story posted at 3:30 p.m. EST/12:30 p.m. PST, 12/11/97 techweb.cmp.com