WASHINGTON -- The National Association of Manufacturers expressed disappointment today with the Treasury Department's failure to cite China for currency manipulation in its semiannual report to Congress, but noted Treasury's statement that time is running out for China to act.

NAM president John Engler released a statement saying, "We have called for Treasury to cite China for currency manipulation in its report, and of course we are disappointed that did not happen."

But Engler pointed to a statement by Snow during a Treasury news conference this afternoon warning China that, "If current trends continue without substantial alteration, China's policies will likely meet the statute's technical requirements for designation" as a currency manipulator.

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PHOENIX -- Hurt by the loss of a key customer, Suntron Corp., a provider of electronics manufacturing services, today reported a net loss of $6.2 million as net sales slipped 18% to $82.7 million in its fiscal first quarter.

The results include $400,000 of restructuring charges related to severance, retention and lease exit costs.

Sequentially, net sales decreased $33.1 million, or 29%.

The decline was primarily due to the loss of Applied Materials, Suntron said.

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SAN JOSE -- Michael E. Marks will step down early next year as chief executive of Flextronics International Ltd. He will be replaced by Michael McNamara, the company's chief operating officer.

Marks told analysts in San Francisco on Thursday that he will become chairman of the company on Jan. 31, 2006.

Flextronics, the world's largest EMS provider, also announced several charges associated with restructuring and refinancing the balance sheet. 

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