US DATA: SEMI reported that for the quarter ending December 31,
2011, the worldwide photovoltaic manufacturing equipment book-to-bill
ratio, at 0.53, increased from last quarter’s record low (0.35). A more
moderate decline in bookings than billings resulted in the increased
ratio. Worldwide billings experienced the sharpest quarterly decline
since Q1’10, down 44 percent quarter-over-quarter (QoQ).