"...Hynix executive vice president Choi Jin-seog said it will be difficult for ProMOS to change partners...and they are also reviewing other possibilities, but talks with ProMOS are going well..."

"...Gartner's inventory index, which measures inventory throughout the chip industry's supply chain, rose to 1.16 in the fourth quarter...the index is nowhere near the early 2001 peak of 1.7, it still comes as bad news to an industry dealing with a slump that's crimping demand for electronics of many stripes as well for the chips and other components that run them..."

Chinese companies' methods for dealing with waste haven't been perfected. Because of the environmental hazard, polysilicon companies in the developed world recycle the compound, putting it back into the production process. But the high costs and time, and enormous energy consumption required for heating the substance to more than 1800 degrees for recycling, have discouraged many factories in China from doing the same. But..there's such a severe shortage of polysilicon that the government is willing to overlook this issue for now.

"...A Hynix executive said they are trying to find out the veracity of the news report through their local corporation in Taiwan. If it establishes ties with Micron, ProMOS will have to give up all its existing production technologies. So it won't be easy for them to seal a deal. If the report proves true, Hynix could find itself in a difficult spot..."

"...Global market conditions are still not good due to a supply glut...Still, we expect a recovery in the second half as demand should be stronger..."

"...Samsung Electronics has expressed opposition to Hynix Semiconductor's planned technology transfer to Taiwan's ProMOS....Hynix said there is no problem with its technology transfer to Taiwan..."

Net income was US$71.2 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with US$73.7 million, or 22 cents, a year earlier. Analysts had estimated profit on average of US$59.6 million, or 22 cents a share.

"...Micron plans to "launch a new independent identity" for its CMOS image sensor business...The moves follow what has been described by some as the perfect storm at Micron..."