Advanced Micro Devices

Advanced Micro Devices' net risesAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. reported yesterday that net income rose 55 percent in the second quarter from the corresponding period a year earlier, largely because of strong sales of microprocessors for advanced personal computers.The company, the sixth-largest semiconductor maker, began selling the more powerful 486-generation microprocessor two months ago.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Shares declined 6 cents to $12.64 after it was announced that an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government bought an 8.1 percent stake in the chip maker for $622 million.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Shares declined 6 cents to $12.64 after it was announced that an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government bought an 8.1 percent stake in the chip maker for $622 million.

What has happened to my shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc.? The bottom has fallen out. - K.V., via the Internet Babe Ruth, the legend goes, once pointed to the bleachers before slamming a home run. Joe Namath guaranteed a Super Bowl victory. Both athletes delivered. Investors in the big chip maker are waiting to see whether such bravado can succeed in semiconductors as well. "There's no reason why" Advanced Micro Devices can't have 40 percent of the global server market by 2009, AMD Commercial Vice President Marty Seyer recently declared.

Intel, AMD settle chip disputeA bitter, seven-year legal fight ended yesterday as Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. agreed to settle all their court disputes in a battle over whether Advanced Micro Devices had the right to make copies of Intel's industry-dominating microprocessor chip.The legal battle has roots in a 1982 licensing agreement under which Advanced Micro Devices was given the rights to make versions of Intel's 386 microprocessor chip.Under the agreement, Advanced Micro Devices will gain a license to Intel's software known as microcode that is embedded in each microprocessor and governs the chip's operations.

Intel loses copyright fightIn a verdict potentially worth billions of dollars, a federal court jury in San Jose, Calif., ruled yesterday for Advanced Micro Devices Inc. in its long-running litigation with Intel Corp.The jury found that a 1976 copyright agreement between Advanced Micro Devices and Intel granted Advanced Micro rights to sell microchips containing Intel microcode, which is software embedded in the chip. Intel said it would appeal.Shares in Advanced Micro Devices soared on the news, closing at $28.875, up $6.125, on the New York Stock Exchange.

U.S. expects to regain lead in semiconductorsThe U.S. semiconductor industry, surpassed six years ago by Japanese rivals, is expected to retake the global lead by early next year, industry watchers say.It would be an astounding feat, the first time a key U.S. industry has regained a dominant market position after being knocked out of first place by Japanese competitors."

SAN FRANCISCO -- Intel Corp., the world's largest computer-chip maker, has released a new processor for servers that runs faster and consumes less power as the company seeks to win back sales lost to chief rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Intel Vice President Tom Kilroy showed a system based on Intel's new chip working in competition against an Advance Micro chip-based machine at a presentation yesterday. "We're back in the position we're used to being in, that's undeniable leadership," he told an audience of analysts.

NEW YORK -- Most U.S. stocks declined yesterday afterTC report showing September manufacturing activity was stronger than expected bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve soon will raise interest rates to cool inflation.Semiconductors paced the retreat after a profit warning from Advanced Micro Devices Inc., a computer chip maker whose stock was the most actively traded yesterday."We've had the view the economy is too strong for the Fed, and this report confirms that view," said Jeffrey Applegate, chief investment strategist at CS First Boston Corp.

What on earth has happened to my shares of Intel Corp. this year? Is there hope for the future? - J.L., via the Internet The world's largest semiconductor chipmaker is combating increased competition and eroding market share by restructuring, downsizing and rolling out products based on its more powerful and efficient new Core technology. Chip industry inventories continue to rise because of disappointing sales of personal computers, and laptops in particular, on worries about interest rates, the economy and the stock market.

What on earth has happened to my shares of Intel Corp. this year? Is there hope for the future? - J.L., via the Internet The world's largest semiconductor chipmaker is combating increased competition and eroding market share by restructuring, downsizing and rolling out products based on its more powerful and efficient new Core technology. Chip industry inventories continue to rise because of disappointing sales of personal computers, and laptops in particular, on worries about interest rates, the economy and the stock market.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Intel Corp., the world's largest computer-chip maker, has released a new processor for servers that runs faster and consumes less power as the company seeks to win back sales lost to chief rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Intel Vice President Tom Kilroy showed a system based on Intel's new chip working in competition against an Advance Micro chip-based machine at a presentation yesterday. "We're back in the position we're used to being in, that's undeniable leadership," he told an audience of analysts.

It's never fun to have a losing investment, but the loser stocks you own can offer one crumb of comfort - you can use the losses to offset capital gains elsewhere in your portfolio. If you're like most investors, you may be ignoring the stocks that have handed you big losses because the loss is "just on paper." Unfortunately, not selling a stock just because it's down doesn't make a lot of sense, since the price you paid for the stock has absolutely no bearing on its future performance.

Legg Mason Inc. again has picked a dozen lean stocks it hopes will fatten up into big money-makers by next Thanksgiving.The Baltimore-based brokerage and investment banking firm yesterday unveiled its 18th annual Thanksgiving list of stocks it will recommend to clients. But these aren't companies worth raving about, because they've been picked from the bargain shelf."These are stocks that are down significantly from their highs," said Richard E. Cripps, Legg Mason's director of equity marketing.

Intel, AMD settle chip disputeA bitter, seven-year legal fight ended yesterday as Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. agreed to settle all their court disputes in a battle over whether Advanced Micro Devices had the right to make copies of Intel's industry-dominating microprocessor chip.The legal battle has roots in a 1982 licensing agreement under which Advanced Micro Devices was given the rights to make versions of Intel's 386 microprocessor chip.Under the agreement, Advanced Micro Devices will gain a license to Intel's software known as microcode that is embedded in each microprocessor and governs the chip's operations.

NEW YORK -- Most U.S. stocks declined yesterday afterTC report showing September manufacturing activity was stronger than expected bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve soon will raise interest rates to cool inflation.Semiconductors paced the retreat after a profit warning from Advanced Micro Devices Inc., a computer chip maker whose stock was the most actively traded yesterday."We've had the view the economy is too strong for the Fed, and this report confirms that view," said Jeffrey Applegate, chief investment strategist at CS First Boston Corp.

Legg Mason Inc. again has picked a dozen lean stocks it hopes will fatten up into big money-makers by next Thanksgiving.The Baltimore-based brokerage and investment banking firm yesterday unveiled its 18th annual Thanksgiving list of stocks it will recommend to clients. But these aren't companies worth raving about, because they've been picked from the bargain shelf."These are stocks that are down significantly from their highs," said Richard E. Cripps, Legg Mason's director of equity marketing.

International Business Machines' announcement yesterday that it will join Japan's Toshiba Corp. and Germany's Siemens AG to develop advanced computer chips demonstrates how nationalist competition is giving way to international alliances fueled by financial and technical necessities.As in another international venture announced yesterday -- a $700 million deal between Fujitsu and Advanced Micro Devices -- sharing costs was a key factor in the IBM-Toshiba-Siemens deal. The three companies together will spend about $1 billion to develop advanced semiconductors and manufacturing processes.

Intel loses copyright fightIn a verdict potentially worth billions of dollars, a federal court jury in San Jose, Calif., ruled yesterday for Advanced Micro Devices Inc. in its long-running litigation with Intel Corp.The jury found that a 1976 copyright agreement between Advanced Micro Devices and Intel granted Advanced Micro rights to sell microchips containing Intel microcode, which is software embedded in the chip. Intel said it would appeal.Shares in Advanced Micro Devices soared on the news, closing at $28.875, up $6.125, on the New York Stock Exchange.

Advanced Micro Devices' net risesAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. reported yesterday that net income rose 55 percent in the second quarter from the corresponding period a year earlier, largely because of strong sales of microprocessors for advanced personal computers.The company, the sixth-largest semiconductor maker, began selling the more powerful 486-generation microprocessor two months ago.