ASML saw demand for its microchip makers fall sharply in the first three months of this year but nevertheless said there were some signs of recovery.

The company booked a loss of €117m in the first three months of this year. Sales fell from nearly €500m in the final quarter of 2008 to €189m.
‘Although we will continue to be affected by the global economic recession and very limited capacity demand, we are seeing signs of a pick-up in technology purchases from the current low run rate,’ CEO Eric Meurice said in a statement.
The company said it had managed to generate €300m in cash from cost cutting while maintaining strategic investments.