A 500-megawatt solar energy development quota set by the Spanish government for 2009 might already be filled. That's because an ongoing government investigation has uncovered widespread fraud that could in effect reward those who falsely claimed to have completed solar power projects by a September deadline when they didn't, wrote Jeff Osborne, an equity analyst with Thomas Weisel Partners, in a research note Monday.

Shares in South Korea-based Hynix, which trails home rival Samsung Electronics, rose 6.73% to 7,450 won after gaining more than 7%, far outpacing the wider market's KS11 0.93% rise.

Separately, Dow Corning will begin producing monosilane gas that is used to make thin-film solar panels and liquid crystal displays in a facility adjacent to the polysilicon factory in Hemlock, Mich. The companies will invest US$1.2 billion to add 10,000 metric tons of annual production to their polysilicon factory in Hemlock, which currently has 19,000 tons of capacity. They will also start building a new polys

Qualcomm's four-year, $350 million effort to design a chip that goes into small notebooks and handhelds will come to fruition next year when device makers deliver products based on the Snapdragon processor.

Semiconductor maker Atmel reduced its fourth-quarter revenue estimate and announced cost cuts that include an 11% reduction of its North American work force amid slumping chip demand.

DRAM ASPs (average selling prices) will climb significantly in 2010 on high demand and lower supply, according to the 2009 edition of IC Insights' McClean Report, to be released next month. This jump in prices will once again give the DRAM producer renewed confidence, leading to moderate increases in DRAM spending in 2010 and big DRAM capital expenditure increases in 2011.

Saxony will lend 150 million euros (US$205 million) to Qimonda AG, which will be matched by a capital increase from parent company Infineon Technologies AG.

First Solar's thin-film panels might be piling up in European warehouses, a bad omen for a company envied by many in the solar industry. A ThinkEquity research note on Friday estimated that six key First Solar customers aren't able to install the solar panels quick enough.

It's unclear whether Intel executives intend to follow Mr. Grove's advice. Mr. Otellini declined to comment, but a spokesman said that Intel already has investments in battery-related companies through its Intel Capital unit. "We consider battery technology important and we look at a lot of things. But whether we will do anything more, we can't say at this time," the spokesman said.

The global economy could fall into prolonged crisis, spreading social unrest unless governments expand and implement promised stimulus packages, the IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Monday.

Even in a weak phone market, rising acceptance of connectivity technology should benefit semiconductor suppliers.