Strong recovery was evident in the consolidated first half figures of both Toshiba Corp and Hitachi Ltd – opposite, and they came with forecasts of further gains for the full year on the back of the global boom in personal computers. Sales of semiconductors, CD-ROM drives and hard disk drives were strong on the back of a world boom in personal computers and mobile communications equipment, Toshiba said: We expect chips and computer-related equipment to keep selling well throughout the second half of this fiscal year. Hitachi Ltd expects 1995-96 group semiconductor sales to grow 28% to $9,400. It estimates 23% overall growth in group net profit to $1,380m for the year. Yoshiki Yagi, executive managing director, said the global semiconductor market was very strong now but might weaken in late 1996 as production capacity soars.
