The U.S. outlook for computer chips brightened.

Semiconductor companies closed out a bleak year by taking in virtually as many new orders as they shipped out in December. The ratio of orders to shipments reached 0.98, its highest level in 16 months, as shipments in the U.S. market climbed 14% from November to $623.9 million in December. For the year, sales of chips in this country by U.S., Japanese and European firms reached $8 billion, a 31% drop from the record $11.6 billion a year earlier, the Semiconductor Industry Assn. reported.