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BANNOCKBURN, IL – November PWB orders climbed 11.8% year-over-year in North America, while shipments fell 9.1%, IPC said today. The book-to-bill fell 0.02 points to 1.06, remaining in positive territory for the ninth straight month.

SAN JOSE – North American manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.15 billion in orders in November and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.82, according to SEMI.

The three-month average of worldwide bookings was about 2% less than October and about 19% less than last year.

The three-month average of worldwide billings was $1.39 billion, about 6% less than October and down about 6% year-over-year.

"November orders are 19% below one year ago, and at levels last reported in late 2005,” said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. “Semiconductor manufacturers have added a tremendous amount of 300-mm capacity over the past year. This, combined with the overall booking trends, indicates that investments will slow in the near-term, which is consistent with concerns about the economy as a whole.”

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- A leading research firm today lowered its outlook for electronics equipment, although the revised growth remains solid for 2008.

LONDON - Cobham announced its acquisition of BAE’s Pennsylvania-based Surveillance and Attack business unit, which manufactures communications and radar jamming equipment and electronic warfare technology subsystems for military aircraft.

The company is will reportedly rename the unit Landsdale.

TAIPEI - Foxconn Group's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co stocks fell sharply, closing at NT$181.5, down 6.9%, to the lowest level since August 2006. The drop comes on the heals of Foxconn's announcement that it will provide permanent contracts to employees with more than eight years of service. The market reaction to the new labors laws that go into effect in China next month are consistent with growing concerns over rising labor costs in the region.

According to some analysts, Foxconn's new employment practices could result in a 15% increase in its labor costs in China. Foxconn employs more than 400,000 on the mainland. Foxconn are expanding in Vietnam, a location recognized for lower costs.