Sony 1st Half Profit Trebles

Our business was better than we initially thought. Actually it was extremely good, a Sony spokesman said. Sonys group net income, which included that of Sony and its units worldwide, more than tripled to 51.74 billion yen ($461 million) in the half-year to September 30.

Sonys units include Sony Pictures Entertainment, which groups Columbia and Tri-Star Pictures, and Sony Music Entertainment, which has recording contracts with artists including Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Celine Dion.

The groups sales in the half-year rose 23 per cent to 2.53 trillion yen ($22.5 billion).

Sony said it expects the upward trend to continue, and forecast its group operating profit would reach a record 305 billion yen ($2.72 billion) for the full business year, which ends on March 31.

 

The rise in profit and sales was due to good performances at our electronics division and entertainment division. Sales of hardware and software helped each other to push up our overall sales, the Sony spokesman said.

The yens weakening against foreign currencies also contributed to Sonys group earnings.