Fairchild Boosts Sales Forecast

Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc., which makes chips for mobile phones and personal computers, boosted its first-quarter sales forecast as demand from PC and consumer-products makers rises.

Sales will be little changed from the fourth quarter’s $324.6 million, the company said after forecasting a drop of 3% to 5% previously. Demand in the first seven weeks of the first quarter has been strongest for newer products, Fairchild said.

In the fourth quarter, sales fell 31%.

Shares of South Portland, Maine-based Fairchild rose $1.37 to $25.71 on the NYSE.