Asian chipmakers fall after Intel cuts sales forecast

CALIFORNIA, Dec 13 (BBC News): Shares in Asian makers of computer chips fell Tuesday, after Intel cut its revenue forecast. Intel, the world's largest maker of microprocessors, said on Monday it was due to a shortage of hard disk drives. Severe flooding in Thailand, which has killed more than 600 people, has disrupted production there. Shares in South Korea's Samsung Electronics fell by 1.29 per cent , while Hynix Semiconductor was 2.02 per cent lower. In Japan, semiconductor shares were lower by 2 per cent to 3 per cent. Because of its size, Intel's forecasts often act as a bellwether for the entire sector. Thailand is a manufacturing centre for technology and heavy industry. The floods in the country have also affected global production of cars and personal computers.