Market Currents

• Friday, January 30, 2009

• 11:21 AM German chip maker Qimonda (QI) has one month to find an investor willing to salvage its memory chip business, sources say. If QI can't find a white knight within a month, it will be forced to halt chip production and lay off 12K employees. 1 Comment

• Friday, January 23, 2009

• 08:52 AM Nary a month after securing €325M in emergency loans, Qimonda (QI) files for bankruptcy. "The insolvency petition is the result of the massive drop in prices in the DRAM industry and dramatically decreased access to financing on the capital markets." 77.5% stakeholder Infineon (IFX) -5.6% in Frankfurt. 1 Comment

• Monday, January 5, 2009

• 11:09 AM Samsung, the world's largest maker of memory chips, denies a report saying it may cut its 2009 investment in semiconductors by more than half amid a lingering downturn. Chipmakers boast strong gains, whether on the rumor or the denial. QI +18.5%. MU +10.5%. SNDK +7.3%. Comment!

• Sunday, December 21, 2008

• 10:45 AM After warning it could run out of cash, German memory chip maker Qimonda (QI) gets a €325M cash infusion from its biggest shareholders, including a €75M loan from 77.5% stakeholder Infineon (IFX). Last week the world’s #2 memory chipmaker, Hynix, sliced production, which may help clear out a worldwide glut. Comment!

• Monday, October 13, 2008

• 04:51 AM Qimonda (QI) announces a restructuring plan and will sell its 35.6% stake in Inotera Memories to Micron (MU) for $400M. Comment!

• Monday, September 29, 2008

• 20:08 PM Some highlights (lowlights?) of today's tech rout: Qimonda ([[QI]] -32.4%) hit an all-time low and is now a penny stock; [[AMD]] -16.9% to 17-year low; others. Comment!

• Monday, September 15, 2008

• 15:46 PM According to Cowen, insolvency is a very real possibility for Qimonda (QI). The stock has dropped 19 cents today, or 9.27%, to 1.86. Comment!

• Wednesday, September 3, 2008

• 04:43 AM Infineon (IFX) is in talks with three bidders - including Micron (MU) and Elpida (ELPDF.PK) - to acquire its 77.5% stake in Qimonda (QI), FT Deutschland says. IFX +1.8% overseas. QI gained 12.4% Tuesday. Comment!

• Tuesday, September 2, 2008

• 08:11 AM Micron (MU) hints it may buy Infineon's (IFX) memory-chip unit, Qimonda (QI) - of which it owns 77.5%. IFX +5.9% premarket. Comment!

• Friday, August 15, 2008

• 08:46 AM DRAM prices will continue downhill, although a dollar rebound should keep sales stable. (Stocks: MU, IFX, QI) Comment!

• Monday, August 4, 2008

• 09:11 AM DRAM market showing renewed weakness, iSuppli warns, after a short-lived Q2 quasi-recovery. Expect Q3 pricing to fall due to bloated inventories. (MU, IFX, QI) Comment!

• Thursday, July 3, 2008

• 09:24 AM Trading higher: QI +22.3%. AMR +5.6% (layoffs, $1.3B charge). SNY +4.7% AZN +4.3% GSK +3.8%. RBS +4.6% BCS +4%. RAD +4.4% (same-store sales). FDO +3.1% (Wed. earnings). DAL +3.1%. Comment!

• Wednesday, June 11, 2008

• 08:33 AM Qimonda (QI) is +18.2% in early pre-market trading after finalizing a memory-chip development deal with Elpida. Infineon (IFX +2.9%) is a majority shareholder in QI. Comment!