Further Japanese DRAM domino falls

Yesterday, NEC announced it would shed 6,000 jobs worldwide, the latest in a long sad tale of Japanese semiconductor firms to predict a loss. Now Matsushita Electronics has fallen flat on its face on the semiconductor front with the news that it will postpone two fabs' production. According to Matsushita, demand for memories this year has been at an all time low with 64Mbit memories, in particular, showing slow demand. But unlike Fujitsu, NEC or Toshiba, the cancellation of the company's DRAM plans will have most effect in its home territory. The two fabs are on Japanese soil. ®