Massive spending on artificial intelligence computing has fueled demand for the most advanced chips — and, in turn, the machines needed to produce them. But other sectors of the industry are slowing down. Some makers of chips for industrial equipment and vehicles, for instance, have reported sluggish demand.
Applied Materials Inc, the largest US maker of chip-manufacturing equipment, gave a disappointing revenue forecast, signaling that some semiconductor customers may be holding off on orders.
Fiscal first-quarter sales will be about US$7.15 billion, the company said in a statement Thursday. That compares with a US$7.25 billion average of analysts’ estimates.
