[ET Net News Agency, 5 December 2017] UBS Global Research lifted its target price for
ASM Pacific Technology (00522) to HK$108 from HK$103, and maintained its "neutral" rating.
The research house raised its 2018 EPS estimate 5% as the outlook for ASM Pacific's core
semiconductor appears slightly more robust than its previous expectation. UBS noted two
factors: (1) faster development in the past few months of artificial intelligence (AI)
application, which presents an opportunity for ASM Pacific's advanced packaging business.
(2) SMIC (00981) is another potential driver, as the company is likely to accelerate capex
for 14nm and 10nm. (KL)