ELECTRONICS: ASIAN CRISIS HITS GLOBAL CHIP SALES

Summary:

Global sales of semi-conductors are expected to fall by 1.8% in 1998, thanks to the Asian crisis, although growth of between 17% and 19% is predicted for 1999 and 2000, according to forecasts published on June 4 by the American Semiconductor Industry Association, SIA.

Global sales of semi-conductors rose by 4% in 1997. The SIA predicts that sales will recover over the second half of the current year and should exceed the sector's 17% growth record over the next three years "thanks...