DEcho

European Commission Gives Intel Record Fine for Antitrust Violation

Seems to me you're screaming for protectionism unfounded. I'm from Europe and I don't recognize a European "buy European" attitude you're claiming. Remember, Europe is made up of different countries usually feeling a bigger urge to compete against each other than the US, despite EU and all...


On May 14 12:26 PM Charles Lieberman wrote:

> The Europeans quite clearly believe in enforcing anti-trust cases
> against U.S. companies and levying huge fines when possible, yet
> fail to do so when domestic companies engage in anti-trust practices.
> Domestic companies are considered "national Champions" and they get
> support, whether it is a domestic airline, EADS the aircraft manufacturing
> company, food companies, or whatever. I'm sure there's no bias behind
> the fact that most European countries buy their planes from Airbus,
> buy their defense equipment from domestic companies when possible,
> buy domestically for food products (and keep out U.S. products that
> they falsely claim are dangerous due to genetic manipulation) and
> on and on. Perhaps their implementation of anti-trust policy is
> now just a new way to raise revenue from successful foreign companies?
> It sure seems like that's one element that must be work. Otherwise,
> why are all the largest fines on U.S. companies out of a region that
> is notorious for a domestic bias?

AMD Needs a Multi-Core Killer App

I think the article had a too strong bias towards AMD. The general consensus in the industry is that AMD is struggeling real bad, see f.ex. theinquirer.net/?artic... - the current situation is clearly not sustainable. Intel is executing better than ever, while the opposite can be said about AMD.. It's partly reflected in stock price, but I think the divergence between AMD and INTC stock price to widen. For one, the article does not mention AMDs execution problems, with delays and poor performance of their Barcelona line, while Intel is actually one generation ahead in terms of process technology (better technology, better margins)

Intel Quarter Hints At AMD Trainwreck Coming Thursday

Reading through the Q&A in the earnings call transcript, when asked why desktops did a lot better than expected, Paul Otellini replied "....The bulk of our products sold through the channel is desktop product which principally is non-U.S., non-Western Europe markets. So if I were to say one large chunk of upside was in the emerging market desktops. "

Intel has with its superior products pushed most of AMD product line into this segment (low-end), so it will be exciting to see how much of a boost this translates to for AMD's sales.

As for the price war, I stumbled upon an article on theinquirer.net the other day: "AMD declares peace in Intel price war", theinquirer.net/defaul..... Fingers crossed - let the peace come. ;)

Disclaimer: I own Intel shares, no AMD.