Research firm Gartner's prognostication of a 24% drop in semiconductor sales doesn't bode well for Intel, the world's largest chipmaker.
But while the company's profits dropped 90% last quarter due to shrinking demand, its balance sheet is still strong: Intel made $11 billion in cash last year from operations and bought back $7 billion in stock. --M.K.
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Last updated March 04 2009: 10:55 AM ET