EL SEGUNDO, CA -- The market for large-sized liquid-crystal displays contracted in July, an ominous indicator not only because it shank for the second straight month in a row but also because the dip occurred at the start of the normally hot third quarter, according to a new report from IHS. Global shipments of large-sized LCD panels amounted to 65.46 million units in July, down 4.5% from 68.56 million units in June.

STAMFORD, CT – Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment spending is projected to total $34.6 billion in 2013, down 8.5% from 2012, says Gartner. The firm says capital spending will decrease 6.8% in 2013, due to diminishing 28nm investment from a softening in the mobile phone market.