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Market News

LOS ALTOS, CA – The medical electronics industry is not immune to the recession. First-quarter equipment sales dropped 2.6% from last year, says Henderson Ventures.

The downturn in sales is attributed to a combination of dropped insurance coverage and stricter approval policies.

Henderson forecast equipment production to grow up to 9.7% in 2011, on an economic recovery and federal stimulus.

WILSONVILLE, OR – Mentor Graphics Corp. reported first-quarter sales rose 8% from last year to $193.8 million.

STAMFORD, CT -- Gartner raised its outlook for the worldwide semiconductor market revenue, saying it will drop 22.4% in 2009, up from a February estimate of a 24.1% fall.

The firm cited better-than-expected first quarter PC shipments and inventory replenishment.

Gartner further guided for 4.9% growth in the second quarter.

The research firm forecasts overall sales of $198 billion for the year as stabilizing prices balance tepid consumer demand.

SAN JOSE, CA – Magma Design Automation Inc. reported fourth-quarter sales dropped 104% from last year to $34.1 million. For the fiscal year, sales fell 31% to $147 million.

ARLINGTON, VA -- Consumer confidence in the overall economy moved up sharply in May, according to new figures from the Consumer Electronics Association. The data also show that consumers continue to feel more confident about future spending on technology and consumer electronics.