Apple: FBR Sees Big Drop In Q4 iPhone Production

Apple (AAPL) is planning a significant production in December quarter iPhone production, according to Friedman Billings Ramsey chip analyst Craig Berger . Berger says his previous checks showed that iPhone production would be down about 10% in the quarter - but he now contends production could fall by more than 40% sequentially. He sees risks as a results for iPhone component suppliers, including Broadcom (BRCM) , Marvell (MRVL) and Linear Technology (LLTC) , among others. “We believe Apple is a good proxy for broader consumer demand given that it has the hottest, sleekest, most desirable products available today,” he writes. “That the firm’s iPhone production plans are being revised lower suggests that the global macroecomomic weakness is impacting even high-end consumers, those that are more likely to buy Apple’s expensive gadgets, and that no market segment will be spared in this global downturn.” He notes that Broadcom suppliers the GPS chip ... (link)