Japan's Sharp see profits triple on liquid crystal TV, cellphone sales

TOKYO (AFP) Apr 25, 2003
Japanese hi-tech company Sharp said Friday group net profit nearly tripled in the year to March on buoyant sales of liquid crystal display (LCD) colour televisions and camera-equipped cellphones.

Net profit surged 188.2 percent to 32.6 billion yen (271.6 million dollars), recurring profit jumped 67.6 percent to 81.9 billion yen and revenue rose 11.1 percent to 2.00 trillion yen.

"We expanded our business of LCD colour TVs, mobile phones with cameras, and health-conscious appliances," Sharp Corp. said in a statement.

Despite a global economy that bore "no ground for optimism," Sharp said it aimed to boost its net income to 50 billion yen, recurring profit to 100 billion yen and revenue to 2.15 trillion yen in the year to March 2004.

SPACE.WIRE