Semiconductor News

CMO buying back shares worth NT$6 billion - LCD panel maker Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) is repurchasing shares from the open market for the first time ever as the price per share has already dropped below the NT$10 (US$0.3) face value, according to a decision by the company's board of directors. Digitimes

CMO utilization rate drops below 60% in November - LCD panel maker Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO)'s utilization rate has dropped below 60% in November as the company now in principle only takes orders whose quotes are higher than the cash cost levels, according to company president Jau-Yang Ho. Digitimes

DRAM contract quotes drop 10% again in 2H November - DRAM chip contract quotes dropped 10% again in the second half of November. 1GB DDR2 modules also fell to there lowest point at less than US$10. DRAM prices will not rebound until the end of this year even the first quarter of 2009, according to forecasts by industry players – Digitimes

Elpida and Powerchip may consider merger - Elpida Memory Inc., Japan's largest maker of computer-memory chips, and Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. said they may consider a merger amid dwindling demand that has driven prices to record lows. Bloomberg

FCS - Moody's Changes Fairchild Semiconductor's Outlook To Stable From Positive; Ratings Affirmed; The stabilization of the ratings outlook reflects the likely contraction in Fairchild's sales and margins because of weak end-market demand. The company recently announced that it expects sales to sequentially decline 16% to 21% for the December 2008 quarter. However, the stable outlook is supported by Moody's expectation that the company should maintain very good liquidity throughout the near term and improved supply chain management, as evidenced through previous cycles.

LRCX reveals restructuring in 8K - cutting 600 people (15% total); expects cost saves $60MM annually; plans other cost cuts that will bring total to $80MM in cost saves

MediaTek expected to supply chips for Nokia TD-SCDMA handsets - The market is speculating that MediaTek will be the supplier for Nokia's customized TD-SCDMA handsets which are expected to be launched in China by the end of 2009, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report. Digitimes