Major Asian Panel Makers Facing Investigation of Price Fixing.

(From Taiwan Economic News)

Taipei, Dec. 13, 2006 (CENS)--On top of market downturn, the world's leading panel makers in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan are facing another major blow, as fair trade institutions in the U.S., Japan, and South Korea are jointly investigating their alleged involvement in price fixing and may inflict huge fines on them if proven guilty. Panel makers under investigation include Samsung, LPL, Sharp, NEC, Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO), and AU Optronics (AUO), all of which denied the charge yesterday (Dec. 12). The news and the reduction of orders by Dell led to general decline of Asian panel makers' share price yesterday. AUO confirmed last …