AMD tight lipped about ATI buyout

SENIOR EXECS at AMD shifted around uncomfortably when asked if it was interested in buying ATI at an analyst conference yesterday.

Dirk Meyer, the firm's chief operating officer, and Hector Ruiz, the firm's CEO, eyed each other for seconds when asked the unusually hard question, before Meyer picked up the baton.

While the world+dog briefly speculated about what comments Meyer would make, he courageously dodged the question by saying AMD never commented on speculation.

Shares of ATI (tick: ATYT) continued to rise on NASDAQ yesterday, rising by 16 cents to close at $16.67.

We've long puzzled at the exact nature of the deal ATI and Intel have had for many years, which as far as we can comprehend it, is something to do with cross licensing of graphics technology.

Partners at an ATI shindig a couple of weeks ago told the INQ that Intel was watching both Nvidia and the Canadian company closely, and if it wanted to wouldn't have too much problem competing more vigorously with both. µ