Sector: Computer Hardware

Taiwan's UMC, the world's No.2 contract chip maker, said it will invest $8 billion in a 12-inch wafer plant in Taiwan, joining its peers in investing in high-end technology to meet demand for chips in fast-growing markets like mobile devices.

Lenovo Group, the world's No.2 PC maker by sales, reported a 59 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit, meeting analyst expectations as strong demand in emerging markets such as China offset weakness in Europe.

Profit at Taiwanese contract maker Hon Hai Precision Industry's grew less than expected in the first quarter, but the main maker of Apple gadgets, whose plants have come under intense scrutiny over working conditions, was in party mood on Saturday.

Shares in Foxconn International tumbled on Friday to their lowest in six months after the world's biggest contract maker of cellphones warned of a substantial increase in net loss for the first half of 2012 on lower demand from some of its key customers.

Asian technology stocks gained on Wednesday after Apple reported quarterly earnings that blew past expectations on Wall Street on robust global demand for the iPhone.

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Foxconn Technology Group will keep on increasing worker salaries in China and cutting the hours of work, Chairman Terry Gou said on Sunday.

Apple's stock price has the potential to hit $1,000 as the company has a tremendous amount of growth ahead of it, Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, told CNBC.

Dell disappointing fourth quarter results, and weaker than expected first-quarter earnings forecast, is good news for Asian PC makers, according to Barclays Capital.

Taiwan computer maker Acer has sued its former chief executive, Gianfranco Lanci, saying he breached a non-compete clause in an agreement covering his departure from the company in 2011.

China's Lenovo Group posted third quarter net profit that beat forecasts, though growth slowed for a third straight quarter, with the world's No.2 PC maker highlighting the Europe crisis and a hard disk drive shortage as key challenges for the global PC sector. 

Dutch firm ASML said first-quarter orders for its chip-making machines will top those booked in the fourth quarter of last year, driven by surging demand for new ultra-thin PCs, tablets, futuristic flat-screen displays and complex smartphones.

Global PC shipments declined 1.4 percent in the last quarter of 2011 mainly due to weak demand in Western Europe and the United States, according to research firm Gartner.

Dell Inc intends to launch its first consumer tablet computer in late 2012, marking its entry into a hotly contested and increasingly crowded arena that has already claimed arch-foe Hewlett Packard.

HTC has begun testing new phone models that work around technology cited in a patent lawsuit won by arch-rival Apple, and HTC's chief executive voiced optimism over the company's ability to meet challenging market conditions.