July 31, 2012 - 14:28 AMT
Honda posts quadrupled profit in Apr-June

Japanese car giant Honda has said April-June profits quadrupled to 131.7 billion yen (£1.07 billion) as it bounced back from last year's natural disasters, Belfast Telegraph reported.

The Tokyo-based company, which makes the Fit subcompact, Odyssey minivan and Asimo walking robot, reported a 42% surge in quarterly sales to 2.44 trillion yen (£19.8 billion).

The earthquake and tsunami in north-eastern Japan and the flooding in Thailand last year disrupted parts supplies and production for all Japanese car-makers.

Honda said solid sales offset the damage from the strong yen, which erodes overseas earnings, as well as higher research expenses.

It stuck to its forecast of 470 billion yen (£3.8 billion) profit for the fiscal year through March 2013. That would be double what it earned last year.