Prices of the most widely used computer-memory chips rebounded above US$3 for the first time in more than a week, helped by relative strength in the price of older processors.
The spot price of the benchmark 256-megabit, 266-megahertz double-data-rate (DDR) dynamic random-access memory chip rose 0.3 percent to US$3.01 after gaining 1.7 percent yesterday, according to the Taiwan-based dramexchange.com.
DDR chips are trading at less than the price of older synchronous DRAM chips, which accept data at only half the speed of DDR.
"Due to SDRAM price support, DDR prices will stay in the US$3 range this week," the exchange said in its weekly report. The exchange acts as a marketplace for chipmakers seeking to sell chips that haven't been shipped under contract to large clients.
"Without stronger demand to stimulate prices, it will be hard for it to go over US$3 in the current situation," it said.
DDR prices have fallen by two-thirds since October as chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics Co have switched to producing the new chips, boosting supply.
Most memory-chip makers report net losses when the benchmark price falls below US$4. At less than US$3, some must consume cash to stay in production, analysts have said.
DDR prices have gained 5 percent since reaching a low of US$2.86 on Feb. 26.
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