Obstacles to business operations

CEOs of Europe's three largest computer chip manufacturers have expressed concerns over the increasing demands by the US, Chinese, and European governments for regional semiconductor production.

Expects chipmakers to boost investments 

BE Semiconductor has been consulting its Tarot cards and predicts rise in first-quarter revenues as leading chipmakers' plans to boost investments.

Sales up by 11 per cent

Franco-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics said its preliminary fourth-quarter revenues were slightly above the guidance given at the end of October, in the context of a global microchip supply crunch, which gave a lift to its shares.