SAN JOSE – Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose to $23.1 billion in November, an increase of 2.3% year-over-year, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported.
SHANGHAI – Fixed investment in China's electronics and information industry rose 29% year-over-year to reach $32.8 billion in the first 11 months of 2007, according to figures released by China's Ministry of Information Industry.
TEMPE, AZ – Manufacturing slowed in December, with the PMI dropping 3.1 percentage points to 47.7%, says the Institute for Supply Management. New orders decreased to 45.7%, down 6.9 points, while production dropped 4.6 points to 47.3%.
Inventories were down slightly to 4.5%, a decrease of 1.4 points, and customer inventories were up 2.5 points in December, to 51.5%. Order backlogs were also up, reaching 43%, an increase of 1.5 points.
“The manufacturing sector failed to grow in December ending 10 consecutive months of growth. The recent trend has been toward slower growth. However, December was apparently a very tough month as new orders, production and employment were all below the breakeven mark of 50%. Industries close to the housing market appear to be struggling more than others, and those involved in exports seem to be doing better. Slower demand appears to be more of a problem than excessive inventories based on the respondents' comments,” said ISM spokesman Norbert J. Ore.
The overall economy grew for the 74th consecutive month, says ISM.
BEIJING -- Microsoft's attempt to invest in a Chinese electronics manufacturer was blocked by the China Security Regulatory Commission as accusations of insider trading abound.
HELSINKI -- Elcoteq will restructure its operations, selling certain underperforming plants and improving its materials management in hopes of cutting $101.5 million to $116 million from its annual operating costs, the EMS firm said Thursday.
YANTAI, CHINA -- Foxconn this week claimed a fire on its Yantai PWB campus has not disrupted production.
However, a Commercial Times report claimed the fire destroyed more than one-third of the Yantai plant's capacity, a reported monthly output of 2.6 million sq. ft.