ARM drops on cautious 2012 outlook - UPDATE

ARM Holdings was among the worst performers on the FTSE 100 on Friday after the firm's president yesterday gave a cautious outlook for 2012.

The microchip designer expects research and development (R&D) spending growth to slow next year due to an uncertain outlook in the smartphone and tablet markets, Tudor Brown told Dow Jones Newswire reporters in a technology forum in Taipei.

The company put aside $200m in R&D costs this year, up from $150m the year before.

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Dow Jones writes that chip makers such as ARM, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Hynix Semiconductor Inc predict that demand for their products could remain soft as a result of the economic slowdown in Europe and the US.

"Fundamentally ARM's business is in great shape, but remember, in 2009, when people went into meltdown and the whole world went into recession, we had a blip then in shipments. This wasn't disastrous, but it was down, now that could happen in 2012," Brown said.

"We're still cautious about next year, and we haven't gotten to messaging for 2012 yet realistically, but the message I know is going to be reasonably cautious," he added.

In contrast, ARM's chief financial officer Tim Score told reporters at a conference in Barcelona yesterday that "prospects are quite bright" for 2012, Dow Jones writes.

Meanwhile, chief executive Warren East said ""We are on that long-term journey and there certainly will be growth [in smartphones] in 2012."

Shares were down 3.69% at 599.5p by 14:53.

BC