Japanese electronics conglomerate, Hitachi Ltd, reported a first- half profit of 3.448m yen ($32m), turning around a 142, 228m yen ($1.33m) loss for the corresponding period last year. The Tokyo- based company cited strong pick-up in semiconductor sales as a driver of income. Sales for the six months to September 30 were down 2% on the year-ago period at 3,802,99m yen ($35.5m) hit by an appreciation in the Japanese yen against other currencies which hit revenue from overseas sales, the company said.
Tokyo-based Hitachi said semiconductor sales had risen on the same period last year due to expanding demand from PC and cellular phone makers. Thin film transistor (TFT) LCD advanced strongly, mainly on the strength of demand from PC manufacturers, the company added.
Hitachi posted a 2% overall decline in sales from its computer sector amid declining mainframe sales due to intensifying competition and customers suspending orders to focus on the millennium date change bug.
