***Chip Gear Index Hits Lowest Point In Years
(January 26)
According to Semiconductor Business News, Semiconductor Equipment
and Materials International (SEMI) has released their December
reading, stating that the book-to-bill ratio for North American-
based suppliers of chip-production tools slipped to 1.03 from a
revised reading of 1.12 in November. December's 1.03 reading is
the book-to-bill's lowest reading since the semiconductor
equipment industry recovered from its downturn two years ago. The
last time SEMI's book-to-bill came in below parity was for
December 1998. A reading of 1.03 means equipment suppliers booked
$103 worth of new orders in December 2000 for every $100 in tool
shipments.
Semiconductor equipment shipments declined 2.4 percent last month
to $2.38 billion from $2.44 billion in November, based on a
three-month moving average used by SEMI. December's billings were
49 percent higher than $1.6 billion in the same month a year ago.
New orders for tools dropped 10 percent to $2.46 billion in
December from $2.72 billion in November, according to SEMI, which
released its book-to-bill figures on Tuesday evening. Compared to
a year ago, bookings were up 29 percent from $1.9 billion in
December 1999, said the trade group.
As a consequence, during recent earnings reports, several wafer
fab equipment suppliers have warned investors that delays in
systems shipments would continue to push revenues lower in the
first quarter of 2001.
Wave Issue 0105 1/26/01 Article 1-03