Irvine, California-based AST Research Inc warns that it expects third quarter after-tax margins to be in the range of 3% to 4% as it follows pricing strategies intended to lead to increased unit sales while it reduces operating expenses as a percentage of sales – its strategy for pricing and market share expansion is expected to hurt its near-term earnings it said, noting that the new Premmia line, launched in the UK yesterday, is priced 10% to 20% below rival models; it also said it was evaluating its pricing, especially in Europe.
