Apple-linked shares mixed after launch

SEOUL: Stocks in Apple's Asian component suppliers were mixed Thursday
after the launch of the iPhone 5, with analysts citing uncertainty over
its impact in the hugely competitive smartphone market.

In South
Korea, shares in Samsung Electronics — a key Apple supplier and also
its main smartphone rival — were flat in morning trade, while screen
maker LG Display and chipmaker SK Hynix were down 1.4 percent and 1.8
percent respectively.

Tech experts said there was an element
of disappointment after the huge hype surrounding the new, bigger and
slimmer iPhone 5, which was unveiled in California Wednesday to much
fanfare, with chief executive Tim Cook calling it
"the biggest thing to happen to iPhone since the iPhone".

Taurus
Investment analyst Kim Yoo-jin said: "Apple seems to have difficulty in
maintaining their innovative beginnings." And Kim Hue-jae at Daishin
Securities said main interest in the new iPhone had focused on its
adoption of the fourth-generation LTE network, a wireless technology
that enables faster connections.

"The iPhone shows a significant
enhancement only with the fact that it runs on LTE. It will help boost
LTE operators to boost their subscribers," Kim said.

In Japan,
the reaction was more positive for Apple suppliers, with Meiko
Electronic soaring 17.07 percent to 665 yen by the middle of the day.

Murata
Manufacturing was up 2.60 percent at 4,135 yen, TDK rose 3.37 percent
to 3,065 yen and Toshiba gained 0.39 percent to 255 yen.

Trading
was mixed in Taipei, with manufacturer Hon Hai Precision inching up
0.32 percent to and TPK Holding rising 1.63 percent.

But metal casing maker Catcher Technology was down 1.0 percent and lens maker Largan Precision dipped 0.8 percent.

Shares in smartphone maker and major Apple rival HTC were flat at Tw$280.

Apple
will start taking orders for the phone Friday and begin shipments on
September 21 in the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany,
Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.

The phone will be available in 100 countries by the end of the year.

Pricing for US customers will start at $199 with a two-year telecom service contract. - AFP