North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted a book-to-bill ratio of 0.96 for October, up from the revised 0.94 figure in September, according to the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International. The three-month average of worldwide billings in October 2004 was $1.44 bln. The billings figure is essentially even with the revised September 2004 level and 67% above the October 2003 billings level of $866.5 mln.