China RF front-end module startup Smarter Micro has secured approval to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the science and technology innovation board (STAR) of China’s Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE).

China-based display panel makers and LG Display (LGD) have been under operational pressure along with consecutive drops in LCD panel price for longer than three quarters, and are placing hope on growing demand for high-end panels including OLED ones, according to industry sources.

Motherboard and graphics card makers including Asustek Computer, Gigabyte Technology, and Micro-Star International (MSI) are all expected to post substantial drops in second-quarter shipments amid falling notebook and PC demand, according to industry sources. The decline is also attributed to the effect of the COVID-induced lockdowns in China on the global supply chain, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on raw material supply, and pressure from global inflation.