Taiwan chipmaker UMC sees demand stabilising, with ‘rush’ PC, smartphone orders

Taiwanese chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) said on Wednesday it sees gradually stabilising demand in the fourth quarter with recent "rush orders" for personal computers and smartphones, but added that customers remain cautious. The semiconductor industry has come under pressure as global economic woes dent demand for chips used in everything from tablets to cellphones and cars. UMC's bigger Taiwanese rival TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said last week the semiconductor industry could be poised for recovery, predicting healthy growth for itself next year and a drop in industry inventory levels.