Wolfson Microelectronics said it was unlikely to see the late-year boost enjoyed by some other semiconductor designers after it said fourth-quarter orders, traditionally its strongest, had weakened further in the past few weeks.

The Edinburgh-based group said the backlog of orders in the final quarter was $22.5m (£13.8m), down 13 per cent from the $26m it recorded in the third quarter. The backlog should normally be ahead in the final quarter as the industry gears up for the busy Christmas period.