Initial jobless claims in the US eased by 1,000 from the previous week to 219,000 in the second week of December, contrasting with market expectations that they would have risen to 224,000. It was the lowest reading since the near seven-month low of 213,000 from one month prior, suggesting that the US labor market remains tight ahead of the turn of the year, and so far aligning with the FOMC’s recent signal that inflation poses a bigger threat to the economy than a softening labor market, warran

Demand for large capacity HDDs mainly for cloud and enterprise computing and increasingly for Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine learning data storage has seen a resurgence of demand and orders as we serve that space diligently. We have established long-term relationships with these major HDD makers and the commitment for long-term supply is of paramount importance. We will grow in line with the industry growth pattern.In the EMS segment, we continue to engage in new projects as well as matching production of high-quality metal components from all our manufacturing facilities to meet our customers’ high expectations. We expect strong growth in the current financial year and also into the next few years as well.In the Automotive segment, we have received orders for the supply of aluminium solenoid valves and will start operations in Q4 FY2024. Also,we are in early discussions to increase our capacity of aluminium auto parts for the braking systems as customers need to buy from nonChinese supplier which should impact FY2025 in higher orders for auto parts.

●NOTION集团迈高成长期

NOTION集团的多元化策略终于开花结果，加上是硬盘驱动器（HDD）市场转强的少数赢家之一，业绩进入高成长周期，可望继续绽放异彩。

作为精密零件供应商，该公司早在10年前踏上多元化业务之路，并成功将核心强项应用在汽车电子煞车系统零件和高端电器零件（归类在电子制造服务或EMS部门）市场，力拓另一片天，让业绩找回成长节奏，多角化进度遥遥领先同侪，成为去年最受瞩目的中小型股之一。

受新客户与需求走高带动，EMS部门销售去年大涨79%，一跃成为最大收入来源，汽车部门也取得7%销售成长。

然而最吸睛的或是HDD部门，因人工智能（AI）和数据中心崛起让HDD市场浴火重生，作为少数几家存活下来、同时为3大领域巨头提供高潜能企业级硬盘间隔件和紧固件NOTION集团显然是主要赢家之一，部门营业额去年激增69%，重新成为第二大收入来源。

今年，EMS部门将开始量产2个新的马达零件，并放眼进一步染指用于吸尘器的更大型马达零件，汽车部门将展开2个新项目，且最大欧洲客户的订单也预计持续增加。 

HDD部门方面，今年将把铝制间隔件产能提升15%，并加速研发不锈钢和玻璃零件