SAN JOSE -- Global semiconductor sales rose 7.1% sequentially in the second quarter to $74.8 billion.

June sales were up 0.5% over May to $24.9 billion, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today.

SINGAPORE -- Surface Mount Technology Holdings said its fiscal first-quarter loss narrowed to HK$6.6 million ($850,000) from HK$16.4 million ($2.1 million) last year.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Inspection equipment OEM CyberOptics reported second-quarter net income rose to $969,000, up from a net loss of $1.92 million last year.

OLATHE, KS -- Elecsys Corp. announced a net loss of $20,000 for the quarter ended April 30, up from a net loss of $70,000 last year.

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics reported second-quarter net income of $20.8 million, up 75% over a year ago.

MINNEAPOLIS -- HEI Inc. generated net income of $79,000 for its second quarter ended July 3, reversing a net loss of $168,000 last year.

MUNICH -- ASM Pacific Technology has reached an agreement to buy Siemens' electronics assembly placement equipment business. ASM will pay €1 for the unit, and Siemens will provide €29 million as a nonrefundable cash-payment.

WASHINGTON – As the US bleeds manufacturing jobs, a House of Representatives committee has approved a bill designed to stem the tide.

The legislation would require the president to direct a board of federal officials, private sector executives and a bipartisan group of governors to assess the state of manufacturing and make recommendations. The goal is to produce a four-year national strategy for building US manufacturing competitiveness.

Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), who sponsored the bill, asserts America has lost one-third of its manufacturing jobs during the past decade. "[T]these job losses were not inevitable, and I do not accept the notion that there is nothing we can do."

The bill could be voted on by the full House today, and Lipinski is in discussion with Senate colleagues on a similar bill.

CHENNAI, INDIA – Foxconn halted operations this week at its plant here in response to protests after more than 250 staff became sick and were taken to a local hospital.

Foxconn said it closed the facility to be "checked and cleared by the relevant local authorities."

The firm’s license reportedly has been temporarily revoked, but Foxconn expects to reopen its plant by next week.

According to published reports, the firm believes the incident was caused by pesticide exposure. However, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, responsible for revoking the firm’s license because of negligence, said symptoms were consistent with inhaling a manufacturing cleaning liquid.

A policy analyst noted India’s numerous healthy and safety regulatory laws have not been well implemented.

EL SEGUNDO – Foxconn’s share of the global contract electronics manufacturing market could reach 50% next year as demand for Apple products skyrockets.

LUXEMBOURG -- Elcoteq said June quarter net income was 5.2 million euros, up from a loss of 11.9 million euros last year, on demand for flatscreen TVs and settop boxes.

ELKHART, IN -- CTS Corp. announced second quarter net earnings of $5.9 million, a swing from last year's loss of $7 million. EMS sales were down, however.