靜靜的部落客

(ww13'12)

日本復甦力道呈現正向氣氛｡三月份PMI指數透露出製造業正趨活絡，失業率下滑也優於市場預期，顯示重建工程持續帶動勞動市場需求｡此外，二月份CPI意外攀升，為五個月以來之首度上漲，但主要原因仍來自原物料價格，整體通縮疑慮仍未減。

轉向美國，三月消費者信心指數雖略微下滑至70.2，但在扣除油價及食品上揚後實為微幅上升｡在勞動市場呈好轉且通膨因素可穩定掌控下，預期消費信心將隨之上揚。

半導體方面，中芯在去年歷經經營高層的更迭，逐漸擴大的虧損，落後的製程技術下，一路顛簸。日前與IBM簽訂28奈米技術的合作協議，欲追趕台積與聯電。然而目前先進製程40/45奈米的貢獻仍低，28奈米推出時程落後Foundry產業兩年，前景依然堪慮。

另外，甚囂塵上的 Google品牌平板據華爾街日報透露，Google欲以自家線上商店作為平台，與三星﹑華碩等製造商合作推出平板｡知情人士也指出，這些產品將依循Nexus系列模式，採取Google及製造商聯名來做行銷。雖然計畫未經證實，可預見的是Google為提振Android平板競爭力及市占，今年的動向值得我們關注。

A rather upbeat mood was observed in Japan this week.  To begin with, PMI showed manufacturing activity has improved in March.  Jobless rate was also better than previously expected, mainly due to the continued reconstruction effort and associated demand in job market.  Meanwhile, CPI in Feb rose first time in 5 months, beating most negative prediction.  But the case for deflationary route remained largely intact as the CPI rise was a result of rising raw material prices.

Turning to the US, consumer confidence eased in March to 70.2, but was otherwise upbeat upon exclusion of oil and food prices.  Given the positive turn in job market and Fed’s vigilance in inflation risk, further improvement in consumer sentiment can be anticipated.

On the semiconductor front, SMIC had a bumpy ride in 2011 with top management chaos, widening losses, and predicament in advanced process technology.  Recently SMIC announced it would collaborate with IBM on 28nm and vowed to start 28nm production in 2013.  Considering, however, its 40/45nm contribution remains low currently and 2-year lag in 28nm development, its prospect will be put into question.

For the much rumored Google-branded tablet, WSJ cited people familiar with the matter that Google may be planning to sell tablets directly from an on-line store resembling rivals Apple and Amazon.  The approach will mimic the route Google took with its Nexus-line of Android smartphones.   Like Nexus, Google’s new tablets will be co-branded with its existing device partners such as Samsung and Asus.  Much remains unconfirmed about this project at this point; it can be insinuated, however, that Google will accelerate measures to up the ante of Android tablets against its arch rival iPad.