STAMFORD, CT – Gartner Inc. reported semiconductor sales would grow in the second quarter, reaching about $65 billion, up 2% sequentially and 8% year-over-year.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – Shipments of LCD-TVs to Southeast Asia are expected to rise by more than a factor of eight from 2007 to 2012, as a result of falling prices, increased user awareness, economic strength and rising consumer affluence in the region, according to iSuppli Corp.

LCD-TV shipments to the region will rise to 13.5 million units in 2012, expanding at a CAGR of 53.9% from 2007. LCD-TV shipments in the region will hit the $6.3 billion mark by 2012, rising at a CAGR of 38.6%.

CRT-TVs continue to dominate the market in Southeast Asia as a result of their lower prices. However, by 2011, LCD-TVs will take a commanding lead in overall television sales as their prices decline, the firm says.

“These economies appear to be weathering the impact of the economic slowdown better than other regions,” said Riddhi Patel, principal analyst, television systems for iSuppli.

“Because of this, more consumers in the region now are able to afford to replace their CRT-TVs with more expensive LCD-TVs, particularly at the larger sizes. While these televisions are mostly being purchased by the affluent and the upper middle class, increased domestic production in the region – which should help lower prices, raise the profile of the product and boost adoption – will encourage more consumers to buy a new LCD-TV set.”

The more mature markets, like Singapore and Macau, along with the emerging countries—Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Brunei—are not growing as quickly as Vietnam, Thailand or Malaysia. However, as prices fall, interest is likely to increase in the more developed areas as well, Patel noted.

The Southeast Asian television market is outgrowing the global business, with unit shipments expected to rise at a CAGR of 6% during the period from 2008 to 2012. In contrast, worldwide shipments will increase by 5% and total Asia/Pacific shipments will increase by 3% during the same period, says iSuppli.

MINNEAPOLIS – EMS firm HEI Inc. returned to a profit in its third quarter as net sales rose 14.6%.

For the period ended May 31, the company reported net sales of $10.2 million and net income of $179,000. A year ago, HEI had a net loss of $1.8 million.