DALLAS -- Texas Instruments' chief executive says semiconductor manufacturers are poised to see a spike in demand once inventories have been drawn down.

SEOUL -- Automated optical inspection OEM Mirtec's North American revenue grew over 21% year-over-year in 2011, the company said today.

SHENZHEN -- SinoHub and Ciao Telecom will invest $15 million in a new joint venture to manufacture and market mobile communications devices in Brazil.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn (Hon Hai) reported January revenue rose 47.5% year -over-year to NT$274.6 billion ($9.1 billion), on stronger PCB and telecom demand.

SANTA CLARA, CA -- Most metrics used to measure the health of the flat-panel display industry reflect current severe challenges; however, long-term supply/demand modeling now suggests that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

WASHINGTON – Apple today said it would ask a non-profit labor rights organization, to investigate its supplier’s factories, including Foxconn, and would publish which factories were investigated in subsequent reports.

The decision follows a global petition that garnered more than 250,000 signatures around the world late last week. The petition calls on Apple to investigate its supply factories and commit to a comprehensive worker protection plan. In response, Apple has asked the Fair Labor Association to look into the factories.

Apple has not yet responded to the second request in the campaign, that the company create a worker protection strategy for new product releases.

Consumer advocates are planning additional activities in the coming weeks to push Apple to commit to a worker protection plan.

HONG KONG -- SMT Holdings Ltd. reported a sharp decrease in fiscal third-quarter revenue as downsizing took its toll on the contract electronics assembly company.

SUZHOU -- An official investigation has found at least 10 underage workers at a local electronics factory, the China Daily is reporting.

SHENZHEN -- A pair of Nam Tai Electronics expansion projects continue to be delayed due to government foot-dragging and a dispute over land rights.

SHENZHEN -- Nam Tai Electronics reported a net loss of $5.6 million in the fourth quarter, down from net income of $5.3 million in 2010.

ARLINGTON, VA -- The US Air Force has suspended Hong Dark Electronic Trade Company and its subsidiaries from government programs after finding them responsible for selling tens of thousands of fake parts to key defense contractors.

ORLANDO, FL -- API Technologies reported revenue climbed 8.5% sequentially to $75.1 million for the period ended Nov. 30.