Applied Materials announces increased cash dividend

Applied Materials Inc., the global leader in nanomanufacturing technology solutions for the semiconductor, flat panel display and solar industries, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 17 percent increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.07 per share, payable on June 16, 2010, to stockholders of record as of May 26, 2010. Previously, the quarterly cash dividend was $0.06 per share. Applied's board also approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing up to $2 billion in repurchases over the next three years ending in March 2013, according to a March 8 Benzinga report.