DHAKA: The world`s biggest computer chip maker, Intel, has said it expects no revenue growth in 2014, sending its shares down 5% in after hours-trading.

The weak forecast comes as chip makers continue to be hurt by a drop in sales of personal computers (PCs).

Revenues at Intel`s division which makes chips for desktop computers fell 4% in 2013, from a year ago, reports BBC.

However, the company said there had been signs in the past few months that the PC sector was "stabilising".

According to its latest earnings, the PC chip division generated revenues of $8.6bn (£5.2bn) in the October-to-December quarter of 2013, compared with $8.5bn a year ago.

"We had a solid fourth quarter with signs of stabilisation in the PC segment and financial growth from a year ago," said Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich.

For the full year 2013, the firm reported a net profit of $9.6bn, down 13% from a year ago.
`Disappointed again`

Sales of PCs have fallen for six quarters in a row, hurt by the growing popularity of tablets and smartphones.

As a result, computer chip makers have been looking to boost growth in other divisions and areas to try and sustain their growth.

In case of Intel, analysts have been focussing on the performance of its data centre business.

Intel said the division`s revenues rose 8% in the last quarter of 2013, from a year earlier. However, the rise was less than what some analysts had expected.

"The incremental nugget we got from fourth quarter earnings was that data centre group disappointed again," said Patrick Wang an analyst with advisory firm Evercore. He said investors were anticipating a healthy performance from the division.

Intel`s chief financial officer, Stacy Smith, said the division`s revenues in 2014 would probably come in toward the bottom of the previous estimate of 10% to 15% growth.

BDST:1525 HRS, JAN 17, 2014
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