Overseas
Business
u-blox announced its financial results for 2011. The company recorded revenue growth in APAC (+3,3%), EMEA (+5,8%) and the Americas (+29,9%) resulting in overall growth of 10,6% over 2010. Consolidated revenue was up by CHF 11,9 million to CHF 124,7 million with increased volumes, while EBIT increased from CHF 19,1 million to CHF 21,2 million, an 11,2% increase over the previous year.
Kontron achieved a new revenue record of 589,6 million Euros in the 2011 financial year, reflecting 15,7 % growth. Operating earnings (EBIT) also registered a very positive trend, rising from -5,8 million Euros in the previous year to 34,1 million Euros in 2011. Earnings per share increased to 0,39 Euros from -0,24 Euros in 2010.
Micron Technology posted a third consecutive quarterly loss in its second quarter of fiscal 2012, which ended 1 March. For the second quarter, the company had a net loss attributable to shareholders of $224 million, or $0,23 per diluted share, on net sales of $2,1 billion. These results compare to a net loss of $187 million, or $0,19 per diluted share, on net sales of $2,1 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2012, and net income of $72 million, or $0,07 per diluted share, on net sales of $2,3 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
Chinese foundry SMIC reported revenue of $289,6 million for its fourth fiscal 2011 quarter, down by 5,6% compared to the third quarter of 2011 and down by 29,1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. Net loss was $165,6 million in the most recent quarter, compared to loss of $88,1 million in the previous period.
Companies
RF Micro Devices announced that it has shipped over one billion cellular power amplifiers (PAs) to handset manufacturers headquartered in the Greater China area. The company also this year commemorates the tenth anniversary of the opening of its Beijing manufacturing facility.
Exar laid off 169 employees, or 40% of its total workforce, in the first quarter of this year, in an aggressive attempt to reduce overall operating expenses and cost of goods sold. The company has executed a series of steps which have seen it eliminate nearly $22 million in annual gross spending, with approximately 30% of the cut in operations functions and 70% in R&D and SG&A.
Altera and TSMC announced the joint development of what the companies claim is the world’s first heterogeneous 3D IC test vehicle. Heterogeneous 3D ICs are believed to be one of the innovations enabling the industry’s move beyond Moore’s Law by stacking various technologies within a single device, including analog, logic and memory. This and additional test vehicles enable Altera to quickly test the capabilities and reliability of 3D ICs to ensure they meet yield and performance targets.
Industry
Despite rising by a worrisome 3,4% and hitting an 11-year high in the fourth quarter of 2011, average semiconductor days of inventory (DOI) held by chip suppliers are expected to decline by 0,5% in the first quarter of 2012, providing some hope that market conditions are improving. Amid slow demand and continued excess production, average global semiconductor stockpiles held by chip suppliers rose to 84,1 DOI in the fourth quarter, up from 81,3 in the third quarter, according to an IHS iSuppli report from information and analytics provider IHS. However, demand is predicted to rise in the first quarter, drawing down stockpiles to 83,7 DOI, as presented in the figure alongside.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version