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To: BillyG who wrote (26716)	12/15/1997 7:37:00 PM
From: John Rieman	Respond to of 50808

Oracle's China market growing at 50%................................ scmp.com TuesdayÿÿDecember 16ÿÿ1997 Shaken Oracle still positive on China DANYLL WILLS The world's biggest database company, Oracle Corp, has shaken the computer industry after reporting disappointing earnings that saw its stock drop nearly 30 per cent in a day. The official explanation for last week's results was that the financial crisis in Asia had hurt sales figures. Oracle reported US$187 million in profits on revenue of $1.6 billion this quarter. Whatever the case, Oracle Hong Kong and greater China managing director, P. W. Pong, was not worried about his own responsibilities, with Oracle alive and well in greater China, despite problems in other markets in Asia. Although not unconcerned about the rest of the region, Mr Pong was positive about Oracle's results, both in the SAR and the mainland. "We have about 600 people in greater China but the biggest revenues are still in Hong Kong. China itself, however, is growing and becoming increasingly important," he said. The currency crisis in some Southeast Asian countries had had an effect on Oracle, but not on the company's sales in the region. The devaluations of the South Korean won and the Taiwanese dollar had had an impact on the company, Mr Pong said. "Nevertheless, we are still growing." As proof of Oracle's well-being, Mr Pong cited a recent signing with Cable & Wireless that was worth millions of dollars. Most of the deal would be put to use by Hongkong Telecom. Oracle also had a system up and running at Hong Kong's City University in only four months, he said. Another key project in operation was at the Airport Authority, which was using Oracle financial and human resources software. Overall growth in the Asia-Pacific region had been only 1 per cent, Mr Pong said, so it was hardly surprising that demand for some products had declined. Mr Pong said that his job was considerably safer than some of his colleagues in other parts of Asia. "My job is easier than those who work in Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries," he said. Nevertheless, it was always necessary to be cautious and watch what others were doing. Japan would be scrutinised with considerable care, he said. "If Japan has a cold, we have a fever." The recent upheavals in Japan were a concern for many, not just Oracle, he said. The mainland might be the biggest market for Oracle some day, but not yet. "Everyone is keeping an eye on China," he said. "China is a big market for us and it is growing by 50 per cent every year." Oracle was supplying software to 50 mainland customs offices at the end of last month and also had signed a deal worth $3 million with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Mr Pong stressed that Oracle was not simply a database company, and already had branched out into such areas as finance, human resources and services. "We have been doing well in the services area for quite some time. When we sell a product we have people to help with the implementation," he said.

To: BillyG who wrote (26716)	12/15/1997 8:23:00 PM
From: John Rieman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50808

Chip sales coming out of recession in Europe................................ yahoo.com Monday December 15 3:24 PM EST Europe's Components Market Seen Growing In '98 BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe's electronic components market is set to grow 9.4 percent in 1998 as the economy improves in Germany and other areas, the European Electronic Component Manufacturers Association (EECA) forecast today. The market is expected to grow 4.4 percent in 1997, following a rise of only 2.8 percent in 1996, it said in a statement. "As Germany and other parts of Europe are now moving solidly out of recession, we expect the European electronic components market to show more rapid growth than in recent years," EECA president Harry Tee said in the statement. Most of the growth in value terms has been generated by semiconductor components, despite price reductions for DRAM memory chips, EECA said. "Continuous price erosion across all sectors means that volumes of components shipped have again increased," it said. EECA's forecast was based on data for Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. The market in those countries was expected to reach a value of $42.8 billion in 1998, with Germany in the lead at $14.6 billion followed by Britain at $11 billion. Sweden has the fastest-growing market while mobile communications is the fastest-growing sector for electronic components, EECA said. The computing sector, however, remains the biggest user of components in Europe, it added.