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Market News

ARLINGTON, VA – Electronics component orders bounced back slightly in March from lows in the first two months of the year, according to the monthly index compiled by the Electronic Components Association.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Spring is showing signs of life for PCB makers. Utilization rates have climbed, and order visibility has been extended to 3 to 4 weeks, on increased notebook and TFT LCD orders, reports DigiTimes.

HannStar Board reported revenues jumped 32.17% in March to NT$1.65 billion (US$48.7 million). April revenues are expected to remain level or increase slightly, says DigiTimes.

Tripod Technology reported its utilization rate soared 70% and has increased its order lead time. Dynamic Electronics forecasts first-quarter revenue at NT$1.7 to $1.8 billion (US$50.7 million to $53.7 million) and expects double-digit growth for April, reports DigiTimes.

TORONTO – Firan Technology Group Corp. (FTG) reported first-quarter sales climbed 8% year-over-year to $14.7 million, on the strength of the US dollar. The gross margin, as a percentage of sales, rose 31%.

PETACH-TIKVA, ISRAEL -- Eltek Ltd. closed the 2008 fiscal year with revenues up 15% to $43.1 million. The increase in revenues was attributed to additional orders from new and existing customers.

TAIPEI -- Global flip-chip (FC) substrate suppliers Phoenix Precision Technology (PPT) and Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board (NPC) may see double digit growth for March according to Digitimes. PPT recorded a 32% revenue increase in March while NPC should see a 20% growth for the month.

PPT's March revenues totaled NT$810 million (US$24.46 million), up from previous forecasts, reflecting strong FC substrate orders for graphics cards. March utilization rate increased to 40% to 50%, up from a 30% rate in January and February.

At NPC, utilization rates for FC and wire-bonding return to 50% to 60% in March while its PCB utilization rate remained below 50%. FC substrates account for 50% of NPC's total revenues, with PCB and wire-bonding substrates at 30% and 20%, respectively.