PHOENIX-- Avnet has agreed to acquire substantially all of the operating assets of passive semiconductor distributor Universal Semiconductor for an undisclosed sum.

SAN JOSE — Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment bookings plummeted 12% year-over-year in the third quarter, according to the SEMI trade group. Bookings were down 31% from the second quarter to $6.71 billion.

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- After spectacular growth the past few years, the ebook reader market is on an alarmingly precipitous decline, sent reeling by more nimble tablet devices that have gained the ardent patronage of consumers, according to an IHS iSuppli report.

WASHINGTON -- The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released a new publication aimed at helping federal agencies develop a set of "repeatable and commercially reasonable" supply-chain assurance methods and practices.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC has updated its sample ordering agreement covering terms and conditions for EMS contracts.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND -- TT Electronics, one of England's largest native EMS companies, has acquired the majority of the UK business and assets of ACW Technology Ltd.

TAIPEI – Foxconn reported record non-consolidated November revenues of $12.09 billion, up 27.6% sequentially.

SAN JOSE -- Flextronics will acquire Motorola Mobility's manufacturing operations in Tianjin, China, and management and operation of its Jaguariuna, Brazil, facility for $75 million.

KENOSHA, WI -- Electronics assembly equipment OEM Pro-Mation Inc. plans to stop building conveyors in Shenzhen by year-end.

NEW DELHI -- One of the world's largest emerging markets is now flexing its muscle in the standards arena.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND -- Electronics manufacturing services provider Enics has named Hannu Keinänen president and chief executive, effective Feb. 18, replacing Dirk Zimanky, who was injured in an accident in early October.

EL SEGUNDO – While Apple will shift manufacturing of one computer line from Asia to the US starting next year, the scale and magnitude of the move is not expected to be major, says IHS iSuppli.