S.Korea Himart plans to raise about $500 mln in IPO

SEOUL, July 29 (Reuters) – Himart, South Korea’s biggest
electronics retailer, plans to raise about 600 billion won
($506.3 million) in a 2011 initial public offering, a Himart
official said.

Himart has chosen Daewoo Securities to manage the IPO, the
proceeds of which are likely to be used to pay off debts owed by
its parent firm Eugene Corp (023410.KQ), the official, who
declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue,
said.

Himart, founded in 1987, operates 281 stores in the country.
In its 2009 financial year the company had a a net loss of 37.2
billion won.

Eugene Corp has an 80 percent stake in Himart. Himart CEO Sun
Jong-koo has a 19 percent shareholding, a March regulatory filing
showed.

For a factbox on South Korea’s IPO market, click on
[ID:nTOE62U02Z]

Kitron ASA: Orders of about NOK 70 million

(2010-06-15) Kitron ASA’s subsidiary Kitron AS in Arendel, Norway, has received new
orders within the Medical equipment segment of about NOK 70 million. Deliveries will
take place in the second half of 2010.

For further information please contact:
Dag Songedal, Managing Director of Kitron AS, tel. +47 91 38 64 68 or e-mail
dag.songedal@kitron.com mailto:dag.songedal@kitron.com

Kitron is one of Scandinavia’s leading companies in development, industrialisation and
manufacturing of electronics for the Data/Telecoms, Defence, Energy, Industry, Medical
equipment and Offshore/Marine sectors. The company is located in Norway, Sweden,
Lithuania, Germany and China. Kitron had a revenue of about NOK 1.7 billion in 2009 and
has about 1,100 employees. www.kitron.com http://www.kitron.com/

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian
Securities Trading Act)

Research and Markets: Snapshots France Refrigeration Appliances 2009 Gives an Instant Overview of the French Refrigeration Appliance Market

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Research and
Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/e185d4/snapshots_france_r)
has announced the addition of the “Snapshots France Refrigeration Appliances
2009″ report to their offering.

Snapshot France Refrigeration Appliances 2009 provides 2008 year-end market size
data, with 2009 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts.
The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the French refrigeration
appliance market and covers combined refrigerators/freezers, 2-door
refrigerators, 1-door refrigerators, table top refrigerators, American style
refrigerators, upright freezers and chest freezers. Market volume is based on
unit sales. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease
of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots France Refrigeration Appliances
2009 forms part of Snapdata’s Consumer Electronics industry coverage.

Key Topics Covered:

* Page 3 – Snapshots Executive Summary
* Page 4 – Category Definitions
* Page 5 – Market Size by Volume (2004 – 2008)
* Page 6 – Market Segmentation by Volume
* Page 7 – Market Shares by Value
* Page 8 – Company Websites (Main Players)
* Page 9 – Market Forecast by Volume (2009-2013)
* Page 10 – Socio-Economic Data for France
* Page 11 – Snapshots Sources for Further Research

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/e185d4/snapshots_france_r

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Copyright Business Wire 2010

UPDATE 1-Japan’s Elpida to raise $200 mln from Kingston

* Elpida to raise $125 mln in shares, $75 mln in conv bond

Stocks | Technology

* To use funds for capital investment

* Elpida struggling to keep up with rivals in DRAM market

TOKYO, April 2 (Reuters) – Japanese memory chipmaker Elpida Memory Inc (6665.T) said it would raise about $200 million by issuing new shares and convertible bonds to U.S. DRAM module supplier Kingston Technology.

Elpida, which is struggling to keep pace with Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and Hynix Semiconductor (000660.KS) in the DRAM chip market, said it would raise 11.7 billion yen ($125 million) by selling Kingston 6.47 million shares.

Elpida also plans to issue a $75 million convertible bond maturing in 2013 to Kingston.

Elpida said it would use the funds for capital investment as it aims to advance to finer circuitry to produce DRAM chips more efficiently.

Hit by the global economic downturn, Elpida received an injection of public money last year. [ID:nTOE60R07I] (Editing by Chris Gallagher)

Hitachi:targets $3.8bln rail system sales in 2015/16

TOKYO, March 29 (Reuters) – Japan’s Hitachi Ltd (6501.T) said on Monday it aims for 350 billion yen ($3.8 billion) of sales in railway-related business in the year starting April 2015.

Technology

The electronics conglomerate said it posted 176.7 billion yen in sales from the business in the year that ended in March 2009. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka)

CEO report indicates solid industry recovery

A poll of Australian chief executives shows growth in the country’s manufacturing, construction and services sectors is expected to be reasonably solid, but uneven in 2010.

The result is contained in the latest CEO survey, Industry in Recovery Mode in 2010, conducted by the Australian Industry Group and Deloitte.

An improvement was expected across all three industries, with particular strength in the services and manufacturing sectors.

The survey also found improving consumer confidence in incomes growth and employment prospects, as well as rising household wealth and exposure to strong growth in China, would drive growth this year.

But the fading effects of the Federal Government’s stimulus and the impact of higher interest rates were likely to hit the construction sector particularly hard.

On average, manufacturers were anticipating a 5.6 per cent increase in the nominal value of sales in 2010 to about $415 billion.

Sales in the services sector were set to rise 6.6 per cent and construction sales were forecast to grow by 2.5 per cent.

Employment in the manufacturing industry was expected to rise 2.9 per cent, service sector employment was due to increase by 2.3 per cent, and the construction sector was set for employment growth of just 0.5 per cent.

Those employers surveyed said the possible re-emergence of skills shortages was a real worry, as the economy returns to growth.

The chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, Heather Ridout says the economy looks set to consolidate this year, but the rebound won’t be as strong as those that occurred after previous downturns.

“Despite the stronger sales and employment expectations, investment trends across these sectors remain soft and conservative,” she said.

“The challenges for policy and for business will be to strengthen the recovery while addressing the ongoing requirement to build on the foundations of longer-term growth.”

The manufacturing partner for Deloitte, Damon Cantwell says 2010 would provide businesses with a range of opportunities to make up ground.

“While 2009 was characterised as a year founded on survival, 2010 offers real opportunities for growth,” he said.

SAIL Admit Card ~ Sail Jobs Recruitment ~ Sail Recruitment of Management Trainees Jobs 2009 ~ www.sail.co.in

SAIL Admit Card ~ Sail Jobs Recruitment ~ Sail Recruitment of Management Trainees Jobs 2009 ~ www.sail.co.in

SAIL (Steel Authority of India Ltd.) invites application from young, energetic and result oriented persons for around 300 posts of Management Trainees (Technical).

Candidates having engineering degree :

  • in Production/Industrial Engg./Manufacturing can apply against Mechanical discipline
  • in Electronics & Communications can apply against Electronics and Telecommunication discipline
  • in Information technology can apply against Computer Science discipline

Important Links

* Eligibility Criteria & General Information
* Download Pay-In-Slip
* Download Registration Slip

Admit Card Download : SAIL Recruitment of MT (Technical) – http://www.sail.co.in/aboutus.php?tag=ManagementTrainees

List of Engineering Colleges in Delhi ~ Engineering Colleges at Delhi ~ List of Engineering Colleges ~ Engineering Colleges Details

List of Engineering Colleges in Delhi ~ Engineering Colleges at Delhi ~ List of Engineering Colleges ~ Engineering Colleges Details

1 . College Name Amity School of engineering & technology

Address Amity Noida Campus Sector – 44 Noida – 201303 (U.P.)

Phone : 6569180,1800-11-00-00 (Toll-Free)

Website : www.amity.edu/aset/

Courses B.Tech in Electronic & Communication Engg, Computer Science & Engg, Information Technology, Mechanical & Automation Engg.

2 . College Name Chhotu Ram Rural Institute of Engineering

Address Kanjhwala Delhi-81

Courses Diploma in Electronics & Communication Engineering Civil Engineering Medical Electronics Engineering Digital Electronics Engineering Electrical Engineering Pharmacy Instrumentation & Control Architecture Assistantship

3 . College Name Delhi College of engineering

Address New Campus,Bawana road, Delhi-110042

Email : dce@dce.edu

Phone : 7296918,91-11-27871018

Website : www.dce.edu

Courses B.E. in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Science & Chemical Technology, Production & Industrial Engineering •B.Tech. in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering M.E / M.Tech : Vlsi Design And Embedded Systems, Power Systems, Environmental Engg, Hydraulics & Flood Control, Structural Engg, Control & Instrumentation, Electronics & Comm Engg, Thermal Engg, Production Engg, Polymer Tech, Computer Tech & Application, Information Systems, Digital Systems Design, Signal Processing, Process Control, Microwave & Optical Communication, Software Engineering

4 . College Name Faculty of Engineering and Technology

Address Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi- 110025

Phone : 26985831, 26981261, 26981268

Website : jmi.nic.in/Fengg/FoEngg.htm

Courses Undergraduate programmes:B.Tech. in Civil engineering, Electrical engineering, Mechanical engineering, Electronics and Communication engineering, and Computer engineering; B Arch; and as continuing programmes for in-service engineers, •B.E. in Civil engineering, Electrical engineering, Mechanical engineering, and Electronics & Communication engineering. •Postgraduate programmes: M.Tech (Electrical Power Systems Management), M.Tech (Environmental Science and Engineering), M.Sc (Electronics)

5 . College Name Guru Premsukh Memorial College of Engg

Address Sector -13, Rohini, New Delhi-110085

Courses Computer Science & Engineering (CSE), Electronics & Communicaton Engineering (ECE), Mechanical & Automation Engineering (MAE), Information Technology (IT)

6 . College Name Indian Institute of technology

Address IIT P.O. Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016

Phone : 26591710, 26597294

Website : www.iitd.ac.in

Courses Undergraduate Programmes: B.Tech.in,Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering (Power), Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Production and Industrial Engineering, Textile Technology •Dual Degree Programme: B.Tech. & M.Tech. in Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering and M.Tech in Process Engineering & Design, Chemical Engineering and M.Tech in Computer Applications in Chemical Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering •B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering and M.Tech in Information & Communication Technology •Integrated Degree Programme: M.Tech. in Mathematics and Computing

7 . College Name Indraprastha University

Address Delhi

Courses M.E / M.Tech : Chemical Technology, Bio-Technology, Information Technology

8 . College Name Institute of engineers

Address ITO New Delhi-110 002

Courses B.E

9 . College Name International Maritime Institute Ltd.

Address Surajpur Kasna road, Greater Noida, Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida, UP-201306

Email : training@imiindia.com

Phone : 0118-4326311, 4326312

Courses BE(ME)

10 . College Name Jamia Millia Islamia

Address Jamia Nagar New Delhi 110 025

Courses M.E / M.Tech : Geo-Technical Engg, Geo-Technical Engg (Pt), Applied Arts, Art Education, Painting, Sculpture, Electrical Engineering System Management, Environmental Sc. & Engg.(Pt)

11 . College Name Netaji Subhash Institute of technology

Address Sector 3 , Dwaraka, New Delhi-110045

Phone : 91-11-25099050

Website : www.nsit.ac.in

Courses Bachelor Programmes: B.E.in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Manufacturing Processes and Automation Engineering, Information Technology, Bio-Technology •PG Programmes: M. Tech. (Signal Processing), M. Tech. (Information System), M. Tech. (Process Control) •PH.D. Programmes: Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Manufacturing Process and Automation Engineering, Applied Sciences M.E / M.Tech : Industrial Electronics & Automation, Mechatronics System, Bioformatics, Production & Automation, Bio-Medical Engineering

University University of Delhi

12 . College Name Sharda Group of educational institutions

Address Laxmi Nagar, Delhi

Phone : 2051235

Courses BE IN Mechnical Engg. Electronics & Comm. Engineering Computer Engg. Information Tech Electrical & Electronics Engg. Electronics & Instrumentation Engg.,BHMCT,MBA,MCA

13 . College Name Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha

Address Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110016,

Email : info@slbsrsv.ac.in

Website : http://www.slbsrsv.ac.in

Courses Shastri/Shastri-Sammanit equivalent BA/BA (Hons).

University Deemed University

14 . College Name The Aeronautical Society of India

Address 13B, Indra prastha estate New Delhi-110002

Phone : 3317516

Courses B.E,BTECH

15 . College Name The Institution of Electronics & telecommunic

Address Lodhi road, New Delhi-110003

Phone : 4631810

Courses BE

Soon, vehicles that drive on their own

Washington, May 27 (ANI): Ever imagined reading a book or watching a movie in your car, while your vehicle guides itself through the traffic and navigates on its own? Well, thanks to a new technology called ‘autonomous vehicle navigation’, this could soon be a reality.

If this technology comes into action, it may also see fleets of self-navigating vehicles for the military operating in war zones.

Keeping this in mind, a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contest was conducted, which aimed at spurring the development of such technologies.

The DARPA Urban Challenge was held at a former air force base in Victorville, Calif. in late 2007, and offered a 3.5 million dollars purse to competitors who could design the fastest and safest vehicles that could traverse a 60-mile urban course in moving traffic in less than six hours.

The contestant vehicles were unmanned and had to complete a simulated military supply mission, manoeuvring through a mock city environment, avoiding obstacles, merging into moving traffic, navigating traffic circles, and negotiating intersections-all while conforming to California driving rules.

And out of the 89 international teams participating in the contest, only six could make it to the finish line in the allotted time.

The winning vehicle, which finished with the fastest time- an average speed of approximately 13 miles per hour- had Wende Zhang of General Motors as part of its design team.

The GM team incorporated existing technology already offered in some of their vehicles that can assist in parking or detect lane markers and trigger alarms if the drivers are coming too close to the shoulder of the road.

And for the DARPA challenge, they developed a more sophisticated package of sensors that included GPS coupled with a camera and a laser-ranging LIDAR system to guide and correct the vehicle’s route through the city.

In Baltimore, Zhang will present GM’s patented new methods for detecting lanes and correcting a vehicle’s route, which helped them win the challenge.

However, Zhang said that a commercially viable autonomous driving product might still take a decade to hit the markets.

The findings were presented at the 2009 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/IQEC) at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore. (ANI)

Star Trek-like scanners may soon be healing wounds with light

Washington, May 27 (ANI): If you thought that Star Trek scanners that fix injuries with beams of light was just a piece of fiction, just be ready for this-scientists have developed a new optical technology that could lead to better artificial tissues and wounds that heal faster with less scarring.

The new technology lines up living cells and controls their movements to effectively heal the wounds faster.

Scientists have long used the energy in laser light to drill microscopic holes or as tweezers or traps to direct and manoeuvre small pieces of matter.

However, guiding entire cells has proven difficult because the lasers used for manipulation tend to damage the structural units of living organisms.

But now, Aristide Dogariu and colleagues at the University of Central Florida in Orlando have developed an optical procedure that does not harm cells, but affects their skeletons – an ensemble of slender rods made out of an abundant protein called actin.

The actin rods are constantly growing and shrinking inside of cells, but the direction in which they grow changes the cell’s membrane shape and dictates where the cell moves.

The researchers used the polarization of optical waves to create a field around the cells in which the growing actin rods line up like a compass in the Earth’s magnetic field.

It is possible to use the optical fields to direct large groups of cells to line up and move in the same direction.

The technique could be useful for cancer assays, which test the motility of cells, or as a non-invasive, non-toxic boost for regenerative medicine.

The findings were presented at the 2009 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/IQEC) at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore. (ANI)

National identity cards to be issued to all citizens: Chidambaram

New Delhi, May 26 (ANI): To keep an eye on terrorists often mixing with common people, the Union Government has initiated an unique scheme to provide a multipurpose national identity number to every citizen in the country by 2011.

“The national population register will be ready by 2011 and the multipurpose national identity cards (MNIC) will be issued to all residents in 2011,” Union home minister P Chidambaram said. owever, as the process is very complex, a pilot project has already been under implementation on an experimental basis covering a population of 30.95 lakhs in selected areas in 12 states and one union territory.

The identity card would be a smart card having a microprocessor chip recommended by a technical committee constituted by the government having representatives from National Informatics Centre, IIT Kanpur, Bharat Electronics Limited, Indian Telephone Industries Limited, Electronics Corporation of India Limited, Intelligence Bureau and others.

The identity smart cards are being issued to citizens of 18 years and more under the pilot project. (ANI)

Now, a motorbike, which runs on air-pressure!

Ludihana, May 13 (ANI): A group of engineering students in Ludhiana has developed an eco-friendly motorbike which runs on air-pressure and doesn’t require fuel.
The 100cc bike equipped with two compressed air cylinders, gives a mileage of 11 miles per hour, which the students have plans to increase with some changes in near future.

Students of Auto Engineering Department at the Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic College in Ludhiana have invented this air-powered bike.

They claim that it is the world’s first 100cc motorcycle powered by air and can help eliminate pollution to a great extent.

“There are bikes that run on batteries, but a lot of time is spent in charging them. In an air bike, you just need to fill air through a compressor. If we develop its air tank and reprocess the exhaust air, the capacity of this air bike can be increased, ” said Akashdeep Singh, one of the innovative students.

“The main advantage is that it is pollution-free as its exhaust is cold air. The Defence personnel can also use the bike, as thermal radiation cameras cannot detect it. Also, the engine of this bike can work underwater and breathes air from its storage tank, which in turn sucks it from the atmosphere,” said Balbir Singh, another student.

Having created the environment-friendly bike, the college students opine that it might not look very hi-tech and sophisticated for now, but it is a step in the right direction for a greener Earth.

“The idea of an air bike was conceived as our energy resources are being depleted day-by-day and pollution level is rising. Keeping all this in mind we have designed a 100cc bike which runs on air pressure technique,” said Jagraj Singh Kaul, Head of the Department, Auto Engineering Department.

Established in 1953, Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic College (GNDPC) is one of the oldest engineering institutions in north India and is a pioneer in technical education.

An ISO-certified institution, the GNDPC is committed to improve technical excellence to achieve global standards.

The polytechnic has set up its own Electrical and Electronics Laboratories Library and Computer Center under World Bank assisted projects.

And the air-powered bike is an innovation that makes the college proud.

In future, Motor companies can perfect this technology and produce air-powered vehicles. By Karan Kapoor (ANI)

Samsung Introduces New “Rugged” High-capacity 500-Gigabyte 2.5-inch Hard Disk Drive for Mobile Computing

SEOUL, South Korea–(Business Wire)–
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in digital consumer electronics
and information technology, today introduced their new 500-Gigabyte (GB)
2.5-inch hard disk drive with a shock operation tolerance of 400G/2ms. The
Spinpoint M7 500GB 2.5-inch hard drive with 250GB per platter features a rugged
base and cover design, offering better data protection for road warriors and
other mobile laptop users.

“Our customers have been requesting hard drives with higher density, lower power
and greater reliability for their mobile applications,” said C.H. Lee, vice
president, Storage sales and marketing, Samsung Electronics. “The Spinpoint M7
answers these needs with a high-speed operating shock specification and
extraordinary drive capacity for storing large data files, music, photos and
videos.”

The Spinpoint M7 is available in 250-, 320-, 400-, 500-GB capacities. A new
controller has been adopted to reduce power consumption in seek mode to up to 25
percent over conventional 2.5″ drives. In particular, internal test results on
PC Mark show an 18 percent improvement in overall performance over 2.5″ hard
drives.

“Samsung`s M7 will appeal to notebook PC customers who want to have a hard drive
operating shock tolerance for mobile applications in tough environments,”
commented John Chen, senior director, TRENDFOCUS.

The Spinpoint M7 utilizes Samsung`s proprietary SilentSeek and NoiseGuard
technologies to minimize the noise-level of the mechanical drive operation. The
halogen-free drive complies with the European Union`s Restriction of the Use of
Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)
regulations.

The Spinpoint M7 500GB hard drive is lightweight and durable, featuring a
5400rpm spindle speed, 8MB cache, native command queuing and a 3.0Gbps SATA
interface. The perpendicular magnetic recording technology enables the 500GB
drive to store 160,000 digital images, 125 hours of DVD movies, or 60 hours of
high definition video images.

Qualification samples of the Spinpoint M7 are currently shipping to major OEMs.
Global shipments in the United States and Europe began in April with shipments
to other regions to follow accordingly.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor,
telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008
consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in
134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of two business units: Digital
Media and Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest
growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs,
memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit
www.samsung.com.

Samsung Semiconductor Inc.
Chris Goodhart, 408-544-4122
cgoodhart@ssi.samsung.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009

LG Display shares jump on brighter outlook

SEOUL, April 17 (Reuters) – Shares in LG Display Co Ltd (034220.KS) jumped early Friday on growing optimism after the firm’s earnings announcement that the first quarter had marked the flat-panel industry’s bottom.

LG Display, the world’s second-biggest LCD maker, reported on Thursday a 412 billion won ($310.7 million) operating loss for January-March, slightly bigger than the market consensus, but expected panel prices and shipments to increase in the second quarter. [ID:nSEO78923]

“LG Display will see its second-quarter operating loss narrow sharply and may turn around to a profit on a monthly basis in May or June,” Hyundai Securities said in a research note.

“Its key clients — LG Electronics, Vizio and Chinese TV makers — are increasing shares in the LCD TV market.”

At 0020 GMT, LG Display was trading up 4.3 percent at 32,500 won, leading the wider market’s 1.4 percent gain. The stock had risen as much as 5.5 percent.

The liquid crystal display (LCD) industry has been battered by steep falls in prices of TV and computer screens and depressed demand. But hopes are growing as lower prices and China’s incentives for electronics purchases have boosted consumer appetite. (Reporting by Rhee So-eui; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)

Seoul shares firm, heads for 6th weekly gain

KOSPI up 0.99 pct

* Memory chip issues up on chip price gain hopes

* LG Display rises on growing sectoral optimism

(Updates to mid-morning)

By Jungyoun Park

SEOUL, April 17 (Reuters) – Seoul shares rose on Friday after
overnight gains on Wall Street with techs such as Hynix
Semiconductor (000660.KS) leading gains, while banks rose helped
by better-than-expected earnings from JPMorgan (JPM.N).

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up
0.99 percent at 1,350.02 as of 0209 GMT, heading for a sixth
straight weekly gain, which would be the longest weekly winning
streak since June, 2007.

“Although share movements are volatile and are having
difficulty sustaining a rise above the 1,350-point level, the
main index undoubtedly has upward momentum,” said So Jang-ho, a
market analyst at Samsung Securities.

“There are signs that shares have been rather overbought,
with average KOSPI-listed shares trading at a price-to-earnings
ratio of above 13, which is higher than regional markets,” So
added.

Gains were led by memory chip issues including Samsung
Electronics (005930.KS) and Hynix Semiconductor after spot prices
for key DRAM chips jumped, and following news a Taiwanese
counterpart was planning price hikes.

Spot prices for DRAM chips rose between 6 and 7 percent
overnight, according to DRAMeXchange.

Nanya Technology (2408.TW), Taiwan’s No.2 DRAM maker, is in
talks with clients to raise the contract price of its chips by 10
percent later this month, the company said on Thursday.
[ID:nTP253476]

Hyundai Securities raised its target price on Hynix by 18.8
percent to 19,000 won from the previous 16,000 won, citing likely
gains in DRAM and NAND flash chip contract prices.

Samsung Elec (005930.KS) was up 3.1 percent, while Hynix
(000660.KS) rose 8.68 percent.

Shares in LG Display Co Ltd (034220.KS) had gained
3.69 percent on growing optimism after the company’s earnings
announcement that the first quarter had marked the flat-panel
industry’s bottom. [ID:nSEO214111]

Banks and brokerages advanced as news of
stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings from JPMorgan (JPM.N)
boosted sentiment towards Seoul financials.

Woori Finance Holdings (053000.KS) rose 1.3 percent and KB
Financial Group (105560.KS) was up 2.43 percent.

Elsewhere, STX Group shares outperformed after the company on
Friday said STX Europe, formerly Aker Yards, had won a 750
million Norwegian crown ($112.3 million) order for three
icebreaker tug vessels from Kazakhstan ship owner JSC Circle
Marine Invest. [ID:nSEO309030]

STX Shipbuilding (067250.KS) was up 2.07 percent and STX Corp
(011810.KS) were up 1.52 percent.

(Editing by Chris Lewis)

Toshiba sees smaller 08/09 loss, but tax costs hurt

TOKYO (Reuters) – Toshiba Corp (6502.T) said on Friday it expected to post a smaller operating loss than it had previously forecast for the year that ended last month, as prices of flash memory stabilized, with earlier reports of the smaller loss helping its shares rise 4 percent.

But Toshiba, the world’s No. 2 maker of NAND-type flash memory behind Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS), revised down its net earnings estimate to a bigger loss on tax credit costs, after grappling with sharp declines in chip demand.

“A smaller operating loss is positive, but we can’t really say this is significant enough to trigger a big change in the company’s financial strength,” Goldman Sachs analyst Ikuo Matsuhashi said in a note to clients prior to the announcement.

Toshiba said it now expects an operating loss of 250 billion yen ($2.52 billion), less than its previous forecast for a 280 billion yen loss, on better-than-expected sales of its NAND chips, used in mobile phones and portable music players like Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) iPod.

Analysts on average see a loss of 283.2 billion yen, according to a poll of 15 brokerages by Reuters Estimates.

For the current financial year, the Nikkei business daily earlier said Toshiba will likely forecast an operating profit of about 100 billion yen. Analysts expect a loss of 110.8 billion yen.

“That figure sounds rather ambitious,” said Masaharu Sato, analyst at Daiwa Institute of Research. “Even if NAND prices stabilize, the tough outlook for system chips will continue.”

“Strengthening Toshiba’s capital has become an urgent issue.”

Toshiba said it expected its net loss for the year ended last month to widen by 25 percent from its previous forecast to 350 billion yen, after writing down a hefty 85 billion yen in deferred tax assets.

The new net loss estimate compares with a consensus of a 269 billion yen loss from 15 analysts polled.

Shares in Toshiba closed the morning session up 4.4 percent to 332 yen, outperforming a 2.2 percent rise in the benchmark Nikkei average .N225.

($1=99.37 Yen)

(Reporting by Sachi Izumi and Mayumi Negishi; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Nikkei set to rise on Wall St gain, NEC Elec eyed

TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei average is likely
to rise on Thursday, with banking shares expected to gain ground
after Wall Street climbed on several signs that the U.S.
recession could be abating.

NEC Electronics Corp (6723.T) will be in focus after sources
said it and Renesas Technology Corp are in the final stage of
talks on a merger in a bid to survive as sales slump amid global
economic turmoil. [ID:nT223191]

“After a steady performance on Wall Street, Japanese stocks
will likely gain, with financial shares stabilising,” said Yoku
Ihara, manager at Retela Crea Securities.

“The merger news between NEC Electronics and Renesas is also
positive. When there’s a strong leader in an industry, that
promotes efficiency and gradually leads to more strength in
negotiating prices,” he said.

Hope that the economic slump was abating rose after the U.S.
Federal Reserve’s Beige Book indicated the economy continued to
weaken, but the contraction’s speed was fading.

Adding to the upbeat tone, data from American Express (AXP.N)
signaled that the ability of some consumers to pay their bills is
stabilising. [.N]

Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 2NKc1 closed at 8,925 on
Wednesday, 185 points above the Osaka close, pointing to
a higher opening.

Market participants expect the benchmark Nikkei .N225 to
move between 8,700 and 8,900 on Thursday. It fell 1.1 percent the
previous day to end at 8,742.96 for its third consecutive day of
losses — its first such run in nearly two weeks.
———————-MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2258 GMT ————

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S and P 500 .SPX 852.06 1.25% 10.560
USD/JPY JPY 99.24 -0.13% -0.130
10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 2.768 — 0.000
SPOT GOLD XAU 889.3 -0.15% -1.300
US CRUDE CLc1 49.62 0.75% 0.360
DOW JONES .DJI 8029.62 1.38% 109.44
————————————————————-
> Wall St climbs on signs recession easing [.N]
> Dollar gains as economic concerns persist [USD/]
> Bonds mostly up on economic worries, tame inflation [US/]
> Gold rises in quiet trade as inflation eyed [GOL/]
> Oil falls slightly as stockpiles weigh [O/R]
STOCKS TO WATCH

— Aderans Holdings Co Ltd (8170.T)

The wig maker’s board will approve a tender offer for at
least 33.4 percent of its shares by Unison Capital Inc at a
meeting on Thursday, the Nikkei business daily said.
[ID:nN15509722]

– Takeda Pharmaceutical Co (4502.T)

The drugmaker’s operating profit for the year ended last
month is expected to have fallen 31 percent, the Nikkei business
daily said.

That is an improvement over earlier projections as a delay in
getting drugs, including a key diabetes drug, approved in the
United States led to a decline in market research and promotion
expenses, the paper said.

— Asahi Glass Co Ltd (5201.T)

Asahi Glass said on Wednesday it will end production of auto
glass at one of its three factories in Japan in response to
slumping demand. [ID:nT173168]

— Santen Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (4536.OS)

Santen Pharmaceutical agreed to license to Merck and Co Inc
(MRK.N) its glaucoma and ocular hypertension drug tafluprost, in
a move to help drive global sales of one of Santen’s key
products. [ID:nT186326]
(Reporting by Aiko Hayashi; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Tokyo bourse halts trade in NEC Elec, Aderans

TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) – The Tokyo stock exchange halted on Thursday trade in shares of NEC Electronics Corp (6723.T) and Aderans Holdings (8170.T).

Sources said NEC Electronics and Renesas Technology Corp are in the final stage of talks on a merger in a bid to survive as sales slump amid global economic turmoil. [ID:nT223191]

The Nikkei business daily said that wig maker Aderans’s board will approve a tender offer for at least 33.4 percent of its shares by Unison Capital Inc at a meeting on Thursday. [ID:nN15509722] (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)

Nikkei jumps 3 pct on U.S. hopes, NEC Elec seen up

OKYO, April 16 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei average gained more than 3 percent on Thursday as exporters gained on a weaker yen and on hopes that the U.S. recession could be abating, while NEC Electronics (6723.T) was bid up by its daily limit on news of merger talks with Renesas Technology Corp.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 climbed 3.2 percent or 281.14 points to 9,024.10. The previous day it fell 1.1 percent for its third consecutive day of losses — its first such run in nearly two weeks.

The broader Topix .TOPIX added 2.2 percent to 853.49. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)

Nomura downgrades Hynix to Reduce, raises price

SEOUL, April 15 (Reuters) – Nomura reduced its rating on Hynix Semiconductor (000660.KS) to reduce from neutral, but raised its target price by 20 percent to 11,000 won, expressing doubts about continuous memory price increases.

Nomura also said it kept memory chip market leader Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) at a neutral rating and raised its target price by 6 percent to 550,000 won.

“While we believe this recovery should continue going into 2Q09F, a bull market should not follow the recovery until 2010F,” Nomura said in a research note dated Wednesday.

(Reporting by Marie-France Han; editing by Ken Wills)