Asian manufacturers' power rises. - The league table in desktop computer companies is continuing to develop in favour of Asian manufacturers to the detriment of their US counterparts. Since the third quarter, the Taiwanese company Acer has now overtaken Dell, with an annual increase of +16.6% in market share compared to a -5.9% fall in market share for its US competitor. Acer was ranked sixth in the world but is now in second place with 13.4% of market share and is behind the world leader Hewlett Packard from the US, which has experienced an increase of +7% and its market share increasing to19.9%. Given its very aggressive marketing policy, Acer is now close on the heels of Hewlett Packard and the latter's lead is being cut quarter after quarter. Dell, the former number one in the world has now been relegated to third place with 12.9% of market share. It lost -5.9% over a 12 month period. The Chinese Lenovo group has ris en from eighth to fourth place with 8.7% of market share. It increased by no less than 17.2% over a 12-month period. With a +9.7% increase, the Japanese firm Toshiba is on its tail with total market share of 5%. (I.L./transl.fl)