When it comes to transistors on computer chips, smaller size means more processing power. So when Intel holds its big press conference Wednesday, expect an announcement that will lead to a serious power boost for its chips -- perhaps from its long-awaited revolutionary tri-gate transistors.
The European Commission on Wednesday approved Intel's $7.68 billion acquisition of security-software company McAfee. Regulators had been concerned that the deal would exclude competing software from working with Intel processors, but Intel agreed to maintain interoperability.
In a move to help it target tablet computers, cell-phone-chip designer Qualcomm has reportedly offered $3.5 billion to buy Atheros Communications, which has developed chips that connect wireless computers to the Internet.
Applied Materials, the world's largest maker of computer-chip-manufacturing equipment, says its profit for its fiscal fourth quarter more than tripled from the same period a year ago.
PC orders are "falling off a cliff," according to a J.P.Morgan analyst who downgraded his revenue estimates for Intel on Tuesday. Another analyst offered a similarly glum assessment.
Semiconductor sales worldwide rose more than 50% in the first half of the year, the Semiconductor Industry Association announced Monday, but investors shouldn't assume that implies a slam dunk for the second half.
Investors are looking for a strong showing from the bellwether chipmaker, which would offer further evidence that U.S. companies -- and tech firms in particular -- are continuing to emerge from the recession. Analysts expect Intel to come through.
There's been a lot of fuss at the Las Vegas electronics show over tablets and 3-D TVs, but Intel's new platform for mobile devices is a big deal. Long the leader in computer chips, Intel sees a market for its chips in mobile devices with the blurring of boundaries between computers and smartphones.