Tokyo - Sony Corp saw its net profit plunge 71.8 per cent in the second quarter as demand for consumer electronics slowed and the yen rose in value against other major currencies, the company said Wednesday.

The Japanese electronics company reported a net profit of 20.8 billion yen (219.84 million dollars) in the July-September quarter, compared to 73.7 billion yen a year before.

Operating profit also tumbled 90.1 per cent to 11 billion from 111.6 billion yen during the second quarter a year earlier, and sales dipped 0.5 per cent to 2.07 trillion yen from 2.08 trillion yen, the company said.

Tokyo - Sony Corp saw its net profit plunge 71.8 per cent in the second quarter as demand for consumer electronics slowed and the yen's value rose against other major currencies, the company said Wednesday.

The Japanese electronics company reported a net profit of 20.8 billion yen (219.84 million dollars) in the July-September quarter, compared to 73.7 billion yen a year before.

Operating profit also tumbled 90.1 per cent to 11 billion from 111.6 billion yen during the second quarter a year earlier, and sales dipped 0.5 per cent to 2.07 trillion yen from 2.08 trillion yen, the company said.

For the first half of the business year, which starts in April, Sony saw its net profit tumble 60.2 per cent year-on-year to 55.79 billion yen.

Tokyo - Toshiba Corp on Tuesday reported a net loss of 26.9 billion yen (284.31 million dollars) in the three months through September 30 as flash memory prices continued to fall, compared to a net profit of 25 billion yen a year earlier.

The Japanese electronics company logged an operating profit of 700 million yen during the second quarter of the year through March 31, down from 61.3 billion yen during the same month a year before.

Sales were 1.88 trillion yen, down from 2.03 trillion yen.

Tokyo - Tokyo stocks surged nearly 8 per cent Wednesday, on the back of Wall Street's overnight rally and the dollar's advance against the yen, sending the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average above 8,000.

The Nikkei rose 589.98 points, or 7.74 per cent, to end at 8,211.9.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was up 46.29 points, or 5.9 per cent, at 830.32.

The Tokyo market sentiment was buoyed also by speculations that the Bank of Japan is considering an interest-rate cut to help stabilize the market.

Tokyo - Japan's industrial output rose 1.2 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in September, compared to the previous month, the government said Wednesday.

The September growth was supported by automobile, machinery and electronics device sectors, but the government downgraded its assessment, estimating overseas demand for Japanese products would slowdown amid the global financial crisis.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expected the output to fall 2.3 per cent in October and 2.2 per cent in November.

Tokyo - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average continued to rise in early trading Wednesday, again topping the 8,000 mark.