Asia's Q1 server sales up

Asia's Q1 server sales up

SINGAPORE: Computer server sales in the Asia Pacific increased 7
percent to US$ 1.12 billion in the first quarter from a year ago
but the SARS outbreak could hit demand in the June quarter, an
industry monitor said on Monday.

Technology research house Gartner Inc. said regional economies
severely affected by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
epidemic could see weaker demand in the second quarter.

"A number of key markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong,
Taiwan and China face challenging business conditions in the
second quarter of 2003," said Matthew Boon, regional vice
president for hardware and systems research.

"Thus we should expect that the second quarter could negate
much of the first quarter gains.

"Many large organizations, particularly in the tourism,
hospitality and services industries are looking closely at
delaying capital expenditure programs."

Sales in Taiwan, now the SARS hotspot, rose 5.5 percent to
81.06 million shares. --AFP