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t.alex
I think cool here means 'not so hot anymore'
yalanand
@dylan.xia, when you say very cool in China are you referring to profitability ? ...
Semico cuts IC forecast, sees decline for year
Dylan McGrath
9/2/2011 7:02 PM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO—Semiconductor market watcher Semico Research Corp. Friday (Sept. 2) cut its 2011 semiconductor industry forecast, saying it now expects chip sales to decline 2 percent compared to 2010.
The move by Semico (Phoenix) could be the most troubling indication yet that the 2011 chip market has taken a turn for the worse. A number of chip and related companies have in recent weeks warned of murky second half business conditions.
Semico had previously forecast that the chip market would grow by 6 percent in 2011. The most recent forecasts by other market research firms are generally around 6 percent or higher.
Jim Feldhan, Semico president, said in an interview with EE Times that the firm revised its forecast after meetings with customers and other signs pointed to a lack of momentum for the chip market in the second half of the year. Feldhan noted that some people still believe that the industry will enjoy single-digit growth in 2011 on the strength of a strong fourth quarter. Feldhan said that possibility "doesn't seem very realistic."
Earlier Friday, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported that he three-month average of worldwide sales of semiconductors was $24.85 billion in July, down 1.1 percent from July 2010. The figures were roughly in-line with predictions by analysts Bruce Diesen and Mike Cowan. The SIA also reported signs of a recovery in the Japanese market.
Semico said the chip market is currently experiencing the result of excess build-out in media tablets, PCs, and smartphones. General economic indicators continue to point to slower economic expansion for the balance of 2011, the firm noted.
Last month, IC Insights Inc. lowered its semiconductor industry growth forecast for the year to 5 percent from 10 percent. In June, Gartner Inc. lowered its chip forecast for the year to 5.1 percent growth from 6.2 percent. Earlier this week, Semiconductor Intelligence LLC lowered its forecast for the year to 4 percent growth from 9 percent.
In its most recent forecast, IHS iSuppli in June raised its outlook for the chip market to 7.2 percent growth, up from an earlier forecast of 7 percent.
The move by Semico (Phoenix) could be the most troubling indication yet that the 2011 chip market has taken a turn for the worse. A number of chip and related companies have in recent weeks warned of murky second half business conditions.
Semico had previously forecast that the chip market would grow by 6 percent in 2011. The most recent forecasts by other market research firms are generally around 6 percent or higher.
Jim Feldhan, Semico president, said in an interview with EE Times that the firm revised its forecast after meetings with customers and other signs pointed to a lack of momentum for the chip market in the second half of the year. Feldhan noted that some people still believe that the industry will enjoy single-digit growth in 2011 on the strength of a strong fourth quarter. Feldhan said that possibility "doesn't seem very realistic." Earlier Friday, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported that he three-month average of worldwide sales of semiconductors was $24.85 billion in July, down 1.1 percent from July 2010. The figures were roughly in-line with predictions by analysts Bruce Diesen and Mike Cowan. The SIA also reported signs of a recovery in the Japanese market.
Semico said the chip market is currently experiencing the result of excess build-out in media tablets, PCs, and smartphones. General economic indicators continue to point to slower economic expansion for the balance of 2011, the firm noted.
Last month, IC Insights Inc. lowered its semiconductor industry growth forecast for the year to 5 percent from 10 percent. In June, Gartner Inc. lowered its chip forecast for the year to 5.1 percent growth from 6.2 percent. Earlier this week, Semiconductor Intelligence LLC lowered its forecast for the year to 4 percent growth from 9 percent.
In its most recent forecast, IHS iSuppli in June raised its outlook for the chip market to 7.2 percent growth, up from an earlier forecast of 7 percent.
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Sanjib.Acharya
9/4/2011 12:14 AM EDT
The forecast by Semico looks to be the worst among all! So many forecasts, which one to trust? I think none :)
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yalanand
9/5/2011 2:02 AM EDT
I totally agree with you, whatz the purprose of forecast which never works ? Forecasting has become just guessing business.
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dylan.xia
9/4/2011 2:56 AM EDT
We also think 2011 is not the time for Semiconductor, very cool in China now.
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yalanand
9/5/2011 2:06 AM EDT
@dylan.xia, when you say very cool in China are you referring to profitability ? If you look at job openings in India, I am seeing there is lot of requirement for VLSI engineers but I am not sure if it means robust growth.
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t.alex
9/11/2011 12:12 AM EDT
I think cool here means 'not so hot anymore'
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