Intel to cut up to 6,000 jobs in factory shakeup, Microsoft to slash 5,000 jobs, Huntsman cuts 1,175 jobs, closes plant,

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Intel Corp. plans to cut up to 6,000 manufacturing jobs as the company struggles with souring personal computer demand that has left its factories operating at less than their full capacity.

Capacity is critical in the semiconductor business, because chip makers that don't keep their factories running at full throttle are spending lots of money on facilities that aren't paying for themselves. Underutilized factories are cutting into Intel's margins, and were one reason the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company reported a 90 percent drop in fourth-quarter profit last week.

Intel said Wednesday that it plans to close three so-called "assembly test" facilities in Malaysia and the Philippines and will halt production at plants in Hillsboro, Ore., and Santa Clara, Calif., where older-style wafers were being produced. Intel said between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs would be affected, but added that some employees would be offered positions elsewhere in the company. Intel wouldn't disclose how much money it expects to save because of the move. The changes are expected to be finished by end of this year. Intel shares rose 18 cents to $13.44 in extended trading Wednesday after the cuts were announced. During the regular trading session, the stock rose 40 cents, or 3.1 percent, to $13.26.

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it is cutting 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months, a sign of how badly even the biggest and richest companies are being stung by the recession. The layoffs appear to be a first for Microsoft, which was founded in 1975, aside from relatively limited staff cuts the software company made after acquiring companies.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Chemical maker Huntsman says it will slash 1,175 jobs by the end of 2009, representing more than 9 percent of its work force, in effort to reduce costs as demand slows amid the global economic downturn

TOKYO (AP) -- Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer acknowledged Thursday he had not gone far enough with cost cuts and efforts to combine entertainment with electronics as his company projected its first annual loss in 14 years. Sony Corp. said it will offer early retirement to employees at its prized TV division, seeking to trim personnel costs there by 30 percent. It is also slashing jobs at its movies, music and game businesses. Sony did not give a head count target for the reductions. It said it is cutting 1,000 temporary workers when it closes one of two TV plants in Japan.