In a whole string of warnings about the quarter ended June 30 that make it clear that a triple-dip recession really is looming in the US, Santa Monica-based Quarterdeck Office Systems Inc said it expects net profits to be $0.03 to $0.05 a share, down from $0.14 a share a year ago, because of a substantial drop in sales of its DESQview multitasking software compared with the second quarter although the new DESQview/X is going well; Convex Computer Corp said earnings for the second quarter will be below Wall Street estimates of $0.06 to $0.08 a share compared with a loss of $0.06 a share a year ago, adding that business conditions remain challenging and competitive; Systems Center Inc said it expects to report a significant operating loss for the quarter, citing slower-than-planned growth in both domestic and international markets; Sequoia Systems Inc has strengthened the warning already given, saying it now expects to report a substantial loss for the quarter because of lower sales following delays in closing major transactions that it now expects to close in subsequent quarters; the write-off of receivables, including $2.5m from a government reseller with which it is in dispute; and tightened credit terms with one of its distributors leading to lower than expected sales; and VLSI Technology Inc expects a net loss for the quarter of 10 cents to 15 cents per share, as a result of price pressure on personal computer chip sets.
