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 : Dell Technologies Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Joseph Francis Torti who wrote (111503)	3/24/1999 8:57:00 AM
From: Boplicity	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 176387

Dell Expects '99 Computer Shipments to Rise 70% in Asia-Pacific Kuala Lumpur, March 24 (Bloomberg) -- Dell Computer Corp. said it expects shipments of its products in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, to rise 70 percent in 1999, led by growth in China and Australia. That would beat the industry's expected increase of 2.7 percent, according to market research company International Data Corp. Dell doesn't give the value of its sales for the Asia Pacific region excluding Japan. Sales in Asia Pacific including Japan rose 30 percent to $1 billion in the year ended Jan. 29, 1999, out of global sales of $18 billion. Dell Asia Pacific grew at a rate of more than 70 percent in 1998, ''and we're expecting that growth rate for 1999 as well,'' Ron Goh, vice president for Asia at Dell, said in a Bloomberg Forum. ''Our business in China has grown significantly.'' The likely robust rise in shipments from Asia should boost Dell's outlook for overall sales in 1999 at a time when the company is under pressure from rivals, such as Compaq Computer Corp., which are trying to follow Dell's direct-sales strategy. Dell, which assembles a computer only after receiving orders, has unveiled lower-priced products, to tailor to customers whose purchasing power has been eroded by the plunge in Southeast Asian currencies and the economic slump. In 1998, Malaysia tumbled into its first recession in 13 years. We ''extended the product range to include entry level product systems for our customers,'' Goh said. ''For example, in our server range, we have (introduced) an entry level product . . . which is very powerful yet affordable.'' The server, at $2,500, is about 10 percent cheaper than the cheapest server it used to sell, he said. Six months ago, Dell also introduced a leasing option in Malaysia for its corporate customers to ease their financial burden when buying computers. Competitors are making similar moves. On Monday, Hewlett-Packard Co. said it will channel some of its latest investment of $15 million in Malaysia toward boosting leasing. The world's largest maker of printers is offering loans for the purchase of its printers, computers and other products. Biggest Share Dell built computers for customers in Asia, including for those in Japan and Singapore, at its factory in the northern Malaysian state of Penang. The plant began operations in November 1995. The company has the biggest share of the Malaysian computer market in 1998, in terms of sales, according to market researcher International Data Corp. In terms of units sold, it came in second after Acer Inc. Dell has another plant in Asia, at Xiamen, in China. While Malaysia imposed capital controls in Sept. 1 to prevent the repatriation of money, the move hasn't hurt Dell's operations, Goh said. Malaysia relaxed the rules in February, replacing the ban with a graduated tax on money taken out of the country. 05:41:45 03/24/1999 For more stories from Bloomberg News, click here. (C) Copyright 1999 Bloomberg L.P.

To: Joseph Francis Torti who wrote (111503)	3/24/1999 8:59:00 AM
From: Boplicity	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

Acer 1998 Net Falls 33% to 5-Year Low as PC Competition Intense Taipei, March 24 (Bloomberg) -- Acer Inc., one of the world's top 10 personal computer makers, said net profit last year was the lowest since 1993 because of intense competition in the U.S. market and a plunge in the price of memory chips made by its semiconductor unit. Profit dropped 33 percent, in line with analyst expectations, to NT$2.49 billion ($75.5 million) from NT$3.74 billion in 1997. The previous low was NT$1.03 billion posted in 1993. ''We had a hard time fighting Dell Computer Corp. and Compaq Computer Corp. in the U.S.,'' said Henry Wang, a company spokesman. ''The fall of chips prices also widened the loss in our semiconductor unit.'' Weak demand from Asia and a supply glut drove semiconductor prices down as much as 70 percent last year, sending Acer Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc. to a loss -- NT$5 billion -- for the second straight year. Acer declared a dividend of 150 shares for every 1,000 held. Investors had expected only a 100 share payout. The company said its prospects are improving, and March sales stand a good chance of reaching NT$12 billion, the best monthly total ever. February sales totaled NT$9.8 billion and the previous monthly best was NT$11 billion in November. Acer expects to ship a record 160,000 notebook PCs this month, more than half to International Business Machines Corp. In February, it shipped 130,000 notebook PCs ''We're upbeat,'' Wang said. ''Things are going to get better and better for us this year.'' Acer jumped NT$1.30, or 3.0 percent to NT$44.60. It was the second most actively traded issue by value