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World Business Quick Take

■ Semiconductors
NEC boasts smaller circuits
NEC Electronics Corp has developed a technology to make semiconductors with circuit widths smaller than those made by companies such Intel Corp, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said, without citing where it got the information. NEC Electronics plans to start production of semicon-ductors with a circuit width of 55 nanometers in 2007, the paper said. Intel and Matsushita Electric Indus-trial Co have already started production of semicon-ductors with circuit widths of 65 nanometers, the report said.

■ Aviation
Cathay's salaries rise 3.5%
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd will raise the salaries of its almost 8,000 employees by an average 3.5 percent next year, the Oriental Daily reported, citing an unidentified company spokesman. The increase will apply to the airline's 6,000-strong cabin crew and 2,000-member ground crew, the Hong Kong-based newspaper said. The airline will announce the salary adjustment plan for management staff before Christmas, the Daily said. Increased demand in leisure travel has made up for lower profit margins resulting from high oil prices, the paper said, citing the spokesman.

■ Economics
Managers trust in recovery
Nearly three quarters of Japan's top managers think the country's economy will continue on a path of recovery, according to a poll published yesterday. The showing from management at 73 of the country's 100 top companies was significantly more optimistic than a similar survey conducted earlier in the year. Seventy companies said they expec-ted individual consumption to improve moderately over the next 12 months, it said. The government cites consumption as one of main factors reining in a recovery. Eighty-seven companies said they regarded the status of the Japanese economy as growing, up sharply from 49 companies in the previous poll. The poll was conducted between Nov. 7 and Nov. 26.

■ Aviation
Qantas mulls global Jetstar
Australian flag carrier Qantas is considering expanding its budget offshoot Jetstar's international presence, chief executive Geoff Dixon said yesterday. Dixon said the Qantas board would take a vote this week on expanding Jetstar's routes to include destinations no more than eight to 10 hours from Australia -- which could include Asian and Pacific island flights. Dixon said Jetstar, which this month launched a service to New Zealand, would not compete on profitable routes flown by Qantas, instead flying to new destinations or ones that the main airline had scrapped. He named Seoul and Taipei as destinations no longer serviced by Qantas that Jetstar could potentially pick up.

■ Software
Belarusian OS in the works
Scientists in Belarus are working on their own computer software to serve as an alternative to the market-leading Windows operating system from Microsoft. The inexpensive Belarusian operating system will work with open-source code like Linux, reports computer scientist Michail Machanek from the Academy of Science in Minsk. Both the EU and NATO have expressed interest in his project, he says. "Ordinary citizens cannot afford to buy an operating system for US$300," Machanek says. The Belarusian Windows will cost only 12 euros (US$14).

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