Tokyo - Sony Corp revised downward its expected earnings for the current fiscal year by 38 per cent on a strengthening yen and slowing demand for consumer electronics amid a sluggish global economy, the company said Thursday.

The second-largest maker of consumer electronics in the world now expected a net profit of 150 billion yen (1.51 billion dollars) for the year ending March 31, down from an initial projection of 240 billion yen announced in July.

Last year, Tokyo-based Sony made a net profit of 369.44 billion yen.

Tokyo, Oct 23: While addressing the reception hosted by Japan-India Association and Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has thanked Japan for providing development assistance for India''s industrial modernization.

"In the next phase of our relationship, we seek to exploit the opportunities offered by globalization and by the synergies in our economies to expand flows of trade, technology and investment," Dr. Singh said.

He said that there are around 15000 strong Indian Diaspora in Japan largely involved in the technological professions and have toiled to make a mark in the Japanese society.

Tokyo - Japan's trade surplus in the six months from April to September hit the lowest mark in more than 26 years as high energy prices pushed up import costs and slowed exports amid the global financial crisis, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.

Tokyo - Japan markets continued their losing streak Thursday, plummeting to a five-year low following Wall Street's overnight losses and a stronger yen dimming export prospects.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average tumbled 478.95 points, or 5.52 per cent, to 8,195.74. The key index lost more than 7 per cent at one point during morning trading to hit the lowest intraday level since late May 2003.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also fell 42.91 points, or 4.83 per cent, to 846.32.

Tokyo , Oct 22 : Japan today appeared non-committal on civil nuclear cooperation with India even as the two countries agreed that atomic power could play an important role as a sustainable and non-polluting source of energy in meeting the growing global demands.

Tokyo - Japanese electronics company NEC Corp lowered its earnings estimates for the full year through March as slowing markets caused sluggish sales of its computers and mobile phones.