Elsewhere in the semiconductor industry, National Semiconductor Corp chief executive Gilbert Amelio told the assembly in San Francisco that the company should move out of its transition phase and start growing above the semiconductor market growth rate in the fiscal year that starts next May: Amelio noted that the semiconductor market is forecast to grow 14% to 15% next year, adding that NatSemi’s current business is strong, with orders up 25% to 30% in the quarter ended November 30, with a gross margin above 42%, compared with the 34% it was recording when it began its planned restructuring about two years ago.
