Growth accelerated in the first four months of 2010 as SE Asia led the electronics recovery and all regions followed. The global purchasing managers’ index reached a high in April, and electronic equipment growth is now positive for all geographic regions.

Growth accelerated in the first four months of 2010 as SE Asia led the electronics recovery and all regions followed.

Globally the current electronics industry business cycle is approaching its peak growth rate. Certainly our industry is far from “recovered,” but relative to 1Q’09’s recession-driven chasm, 2010 growth is now near its high point.

Business conditions continue to improve. Industrial production growth is now again positive for the majority of the world’s major economies.

Forward-looking economic data are looking better and better. While we are not “out of the woods” yet, most global indicators support a broad 2010 recovery.

2009 will certainly be remembered as a very difficult year for the global electronics industry. Fortunately even the most conservative most prognosticators now see at least a subdued "recovery" in 2010.

Based upon VERY preliminary data, world electronic equipment sales grew sequentially for the third quarter but were still down 8% in 3Q’09 vs. 3Q’08.

Orbotech reported a narrower loss for the third quarter, despite a decline in revenues, mainly reflecting lower general and administrative expenses and absence of restructuring and impairment charges reported in the comparable quarter last year.

Based upon VERY preliminary data, world electronic equipment sales grew sequentially for the third quarter, but were still down 8% in 3Q'09 vs. 3Q'08.

CyberOptics Corporation today reported better than expected operating results for the third quarter of 2009 ended September 30.

Measures taken by AT&S to reduce the cost base and realignment of the Leoben-Hinterberg plant are bearing fruit. Results for the second quarter show a positive trend, and in a difficult market environment sales revenues were 6% up on the first quarter.

The first half of 2009 was difficult-to say the least!

Essemtec posts a substantial sales growth in the first months of H2 2009.

The second half of 2009 began on a much more optimistic note.

Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) has reported non-consolidated revenues of NT$128.16 billion (US$3.91 billion) for July 2009, a slight increase of 0.12% on month, but a dip of 1.62% on year.

Tyco Electronics Ltd. today reported results for the fiscal third quarter ended June 26, 2009. The company reported net sales of $2.5 billion for the fiscal third quarter, a 7 percent increase sequentially and a 34 percent decrease compared to the prior-year period. GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.06 for the quarter, compared to EPS of $0.59 in the prior-year period.

BTU International, Inc., a leading supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment and processes to the alternative energy and electronics manufacturing markets, today announced its financial results for the second quarter, which ended on June 28, 2009. 
 

Since gloomy news has been the norm for the last year, we have decided to "focus on the positive" for this month's column.

National Instruments reported quarterly revenue for Q2 2009 of $152.2 million, which represents a 28 percent year-over-year decline and comes in above the midpoint of the company's guidance.

With unrelenting pressure on selling prices, almost all AT&S plants were having to contend with significant capacity under-utilisation, so that sales of EUR 83,2m were 15.5% down on the already depressed levels of the fourth quarter of 2008/09.