Investors insightful enough to buy stock in many technology companies basked in the good returns. Part of Apple's Elk Grove manufacturing plant, previously on the sales block, was converted in 1999 to a new company call center. HP continued as a growth mainstay in Roseville. Then the talk turned to a company reorganization. HP spun off Agilent Technologies in Palo Alto, and suddenly HP shares headed higher.
People are very interested.
NEC Corp., a Japanese electronics giant whose subsidiaries include the NEC Electronics semiconductor plant in Roseville, purchased part interest in Packard Bell Electronics in 1995. In October 1999, the Sacramento-based Packard Bell NEC announced it would close because of continued financial losses. But the company's efforts to overcome bad news are making a mark. Analysts say the stock should make gains in the coming year. So far, the company has not turned a profit.