Compound annual growth rates for microcontroller unit shipments is expected to be 11.32% in the period 2001-2006, according to In-Stat/MDR. Revenue CAGRs is expected to be 1% as a result of price erosion. The devices are expected to meet increasing competition from system on chip products.

The 2002 market for the supply of critical subsystems to the semiconductor
and related equipment industry is predicted to fall 20% below 2001,
according to VLSI Research. The market research company expects a slow
recovery in demand during 2003, reflecting a moderate growth in equipment
sales.

Investment company 3i estimates global private equity investment at $100bn
in 2001, down almost 50% on 2000's $199bn. The top country for technology
investment was the USA at $30bn. Canada came second with $2.9bn and the UK
third at $2.4bn. Germany was fourth ($1.6bn), France seventh ($1.1bn) and
Italy ninth ($0.9bn).

Intel says its investments in young tech companies could be as small as
$175mn compared with $1bn two years ago and $350mn last year (Financial
Times). The company says it can't find venture capital firms to link up with
in new investments.

Market researcher IDC has lowered its PC market forecasts for 2002 and 2003,
reporting weakening demand for both consumer and business products. PC
shipments this year are put at 135.5mn units, representing growth of 1.1%.
Next year, growth is put at 8.4%. The company's June forecast was for growth
factors of 4.7% and 11.1% in 2002 and 2003, respectively.