Briefs

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff says Foxconn Technology may spend $12 billion over the next to five to six years to expand production in the country, in what would be the Taiwanese company's biggest investment overseas. Taipei-based Foxconn confirmed it is considering the move but declined to comment on its value. Investing in Brazil may help Foxconn scale back its reliance on manufacturing in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, where wages are climbing. The proposed facility would produce tablet computers and could create 100,000 jobs, according to Brazilian officials. Brazil plans to offer tax incentives to tablet makers in a bid to attract high-tech manufacturing.

San Jose-based Cisco Systems (CSCO) is closing its Flip video-camera unit and cutting about 550 jobs as part of a reorganization of its consumer businesses. The move is part of a plan by CEO John Chambers to restore lost investor credibility and sharpen the company's focus. Cisco's gross margin, a measure of profitability, narrowed to 64 percent last fiscal year from 70 percent in 2003, to some extent because of a push into consumer products. Cisco shares, as of Apr. 12, have fallen 34 percent in the past year.