Like many companies worldwide, Intel Corp. expects its fourth-quarter business will be below the company’s previous outlook.

The company now expects fourth-quarter revenue to be $9 billion, plus or minus $300 million, lower than the previous expectation of between $10.1 billion and $10.9 billion. Revenue is being affected by significantly weaker than expected demand in all geographies and market segments. In addition, the PC supply chain is aggressively reducing component inventories.

The company’s expectation for fourth-quarter gross margin is now 55 percent, plus or minus a couple of points, lower than the previous expectation of 59 percent, primarily due to lower revenue and other charges associated with the weaker-than-expected demand environment.

Spending is expected to be approximately $2.8 billion in the fourth quarter, lower than the previous expectation of approximately $2.9 billion, primarily due to lower revenue- and profit-related spending. For the full year, spending is expected to be approximately $11.4 billion, lower than the previous expectation of approximately $11.5 billion.

Intel cited many risk factors that could affect the company’s actual results in the fourth quarter, including uncertainty in the global marketplace related to the recent financial crisis.

Current uncertainty in global economic conditions pose a risk to the overall economy as consumers and businesses may defer purchases in response to tighter credit and negative financial news, which could negatively affect product demand and other related matters. Consequently, demand could be different from Intel’s expectations due to factors including changes in business and economic conditions, including conditions in the credit market that could affect consumer confidence; customer acceptance of Intel’s and competitors’ products; changes in customer order patterns including order cancellations; and changes in the level of inventory at customers.

The recent financial crisis affecting the banking system and financial markets and the growing concern threats to investment banks and other financial institutions have resulted in a tightening in the credit markets, a low level of liquidity in many financial markets and extreme volatility in fixed income, credit and equity markets. There could be a number of follow-on effects from the credit crisis on Intel’s business.