In almost every raw materials industry there is a tug of war between miners of the raw materials and manufacturers who refine their materials.

Today's struggle is between Chinese and Japanese steelmakers and iron ore miners. Steelmakers want a 40% cut in iron ore prices, while miners are holding out for a cut of 20% or less. China's leading steelmaker said that iron ore prices will fall by at least 40-50% in 2009.

China is threatening to cancel contracts with the three main iron ore companies, VALE (NYSE: RIO), Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP) and BH Billiton (NYSE: BHP) if their demands for price cuts are not met.

Iron ore prices reached a high of $200 a ton in 2008 and then fell to $55 a ton. Prices have since rallied back to $72 a ton.

Do you think these price cuts will help our infrastructure projects?

This morning, Novellus Systems Inc (NASDAQ: NVLS) announced that it anticipates second quarter bookings, shipments, revenues and earnings per share to come in at the low end of the guidance range it previously provided on May 31st. The semiconductor equipment maker previously forecast Q2 results of 42c-45c/$410M-$420M vs. Reuters consensus of 44c/$415.61M.

The company, which makes equipment to help turn silicon wafers into computer chips, believes its earnings will be lower because of a weak semiconductor market. Novellus said theses industry declines will lead to cost cutting initiatives in the second half of the year, including a reduction in executive salaries for the rest of the year and company shutdowns in the third and fourth quarters.

Novellus is one company among several that have lowered expectations for the rest of the year. Due to a surplus in chips, companies have had to cut prices. Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ: AMAT), for example, also predicts declines in global chip sales growth for the rest of 2007.

In the technology sector this morning, the profit warning from Novellus was offset by an upgrade of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) by Lehman Brothers.