TAIPEI -- Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) reported March sales rose 29.7% year-over-year, its best month of the year to date.

TAIPEI -- Hon Hai's (Foxconn) recent decision to raise wages will cut its margins and likely enhance the prospects of competitors, a Deutsche Bank analyst said Monday.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Smart grid spending will increase 17.4% globally on a compounded basis from 2010 to 2015 while overall spending will reach nearly $46.4 billion worldwide in 2015.

NEW YORK -- Global semiconductor sales are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% from 2012 to 2015, a new report says.

MANKATO, MN — EI Microcircuits is planning a $6.7 million expansion at a new site here, according to published reports.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC and the Electronic Components Industry Association are planning to create an industry guideline for the best practices of communicating component obsolescence.

BRIDGEWATER, MA – Chase Corp., the parent company of Humiseal, reported revenues of $29.4 million for the second quarter, up 11.8% year-over-year.

Net income was $1.2 million, down 15.5% compared to the prior-year period.

For the six months ended Feb. 29, revenues increased 7.1% to $61.6 million year-over-year. Net income decreased 19.1% to $3.52 million.

Sales of conformal coatings were lower during the period, Chase said.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL -- Longtime Chicago-area printed circuit board fabricator Imagineering plans to add electronics assembly capability this year, the company says.

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- The five most prevalent types of semiconductors reported as counterfeits that have widespread commercial and military use represent $169 billion in potential annual risk for the global electronics supply chain, according to a new report.

SIEVI, FINLAND -- Scanfil will lay off 64 workers here as the EMS firm tries to shore up the site's flagging profitability.

TUCSON, AZ – The Offshore Group has posted the first group in a continuing series of videos that address questions related to manufacturing in Mexico, as well as those issues pertaining to conducting business south of the US border in more general terms.

Experts advise on topics such as how to take advantage of NAFTA, how to navigate the process of recovering Mexican VAT (value-added tax payments), and establishing an in-country business entity by using the experience of organizations that provide manufacturing support.

Ongoing information on Mexico business issues is provided in The Offshore Group's RSS feeds.

LEICESTERSHIRE, UK -- Paragon Electronics today reported sales grew 18% year-over-year in 2011, led by 30% growth for its EMS business, JJS Electronics.