Disco CEO sees chip recovery taking root ahead of forecasts

TOKYO: There is growing optimism that the semiconductor industry’s cyclical slump is coming to an end. One Japanese machinery manufacturer is already seeing evidence that a recovery is taking root.

Disco Corp chief executive officer Kazuma Sekiya said the maker of machines that slice and grind silicon wafers is likely to beat its earnings outlook for the current quarter. Taiwanese chipmakers are showing signs of shaking off the cyclical doldrums, while in South Korea and China government policies are helping boost investment for political reasons, Sekiya said in an interview.