STAMFORD, CT – Worldwide PC shipments totaled 90.3 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012, a 4.9% decline year-over-year, says Gartner in its preliminary results.

IRVINE, CA – M-Flex said preliminary fiscal 2013 first-quarter net sales were above guidance but noted slowing production during the quarter.

HONG KONG -- Bankrupt EMS firm SMT Holdings today named Chuan Wen Liu executive director.

MCLEAN, VA – November US manufacturing technology orders totaled $421.83 million, down 8.5% from the previous year, says the Association for Manufacturing Technology.

HONG KONG -- Global touchscreen shipments are expected to grow 17% this year to 1.75 billion, led by higher demand for handheld devices, Digitimes Research says.

FENGCHENG, CHINA -- A Foxconn supplier that makes components for computers and cellphones has been racked by striking workers.

OFAKIM, ISRAEL – Flextronics said it would receive credit insurance to insure its $85 million contract with communications equipment maker ECI Telecom.

MINNEAPOLIS – Mike Bixenman of Kyzen won the SMTA International Best of Conference Award for his presentation “High Speed Cleaning in a Reduced Manufacturing Footprint.”

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide PC shipments totaled 89.8 million units in the fourth quarter, down 6.4% from 2011, International Data Corp. said.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai) reported December non-consolidated revenues rose 13.9% over last year to NT$360.944 billion ($12.4 billion). 

ANGLETON, TX – Benchmark Electronics said it expects to report fourth-quarter 2012 revenue slightly above the high end of guidance.

TORONTO -- An unspecified number of Canadian military transport planes have counterfeit Chinese electronics in their cockpit displays, a new CBC News report asserts. The report could prove embarrassing to Canadian defense officials, who have denied the presence of such parts, CBC News says.