Also . . .

* Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. said it expects to report a loss for the current quarter and lowered its revenue forecast because of weaker demand. The Camarillo-based maker of communications chips said it expects a loss of 6 cents a share for its fiscal third quarter ending this month, with revenue of $60 million. Analysts on average were expecting a profit of 3 cents a share. Vitesse fell 83 cents to $16.57 on Nasdaq, before the news was announced.

* Xilinx Inc., the biggest maker of programmable semiconductors, cut its sales forecast for the current quarter a second time because of declining orders. The company now expects sales of $276.8 million for its fiscal first quarter, down from 24% a year ago. Analysts on average were expecting sales of $342.3 million in its first quarter, according to IBES International Inc. Shares of the San Jose-based chip maker rose 15 cents to $43.86 on Nasdaq.

* Alcatel offered buyouts to 9,000 workers to trim costs in its U.S. business that sells gear to phone companies.