To: Big Bucks who wrote (15213 ) 2/1/1998 11:49:00 AM From: Proud_Infidel Read Replies (1) | Respond to
Not sure if this was posted. Some very bullish comments on the equipment sector for 1998.techweb.cmp.com VLSI Research's Hutcheson is forecasting a bullish 20% increase in global semiconductor equipment investments in 1998. That would amount to $45 billion vs. $37 billion in 1997. He figures that gear from the last wave of fab expansion -- occurring between 1993 and 1995 -- is due to be replaced with new technology and systems. "Any investments made prior to the first half of 1995 was in half-micron technology, which became obsolete in the past year," Hutcheson said. <snip> Applied Materials Inc. is still expecting 10% overall market growth for 1998 in the wide range of fab tool segments that it serves. But "there is the possibility [that growth] might drop to 5% to 10% if the situation in Asia worsens," said Dan Maydan, president of the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company. In Korea, he said, "the first assumption is that capital spending will change very little because their first priority is the electronics industry and the semiconductor industry. Like everyone else, they must invest in new 0.25-micron equipment if they want to stay in the game."
