@Risk

Yesterday, I wrote about optimism in the construction industry.

Now, there’s even more good news, and today it’s from Asian chip distributors.

According to an article in The Channel Insider, chip distributors are reporting better than expected numbers for the fourth quarter. Based on data compiled by FBR Research, analysts are expecting a chip shipment decline of four percent to eight percent sequentially –significantly better than the previously anticipated 10 percent sequential decline.

Apparently, this greater than expected strength is the result of strong industrial, consumer and smartphone chip orders in November.

FBR Research says the companies that saw particularly robust shipment growth include Marvell, Atheros,  AMD, Nvidia, Sandisk, Samsung, Freescale, and Hitachi.

According to Reuters, U.S. retailers also performed better during the holiday season this year, compared to 2008. Most think the worst economic woes are behind us, even though consumer return is being described as “tentative” and far below 2007 levels. As one analyst in the article put it, the 2009 holiday season can best be described in one word, “adequate.”

“Adequate”? I suppose that’s okay –after all, that’s still far better than the adjectives that were being tossed around at this time last year.