Hitachi net profit comes to its highest-ever despite earthquakeMay 11, 2011 - 13:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Japanese high-tech firm Hitachi said Wednesday, May 11, it returned to the black in the year to March on robust electronics sales, logging a record net profit despite damage from the massive quake and tsunami. The Hitachi's group net profit came to 238.87 billion yen ($2.96 billion), its highest-ever, after a loss of 106.96 billion yen in the previous year. Operating profit more than doubled, surging 119.9 percent to 444.51 billion yen, as sales grew 3.9 percent to 9.32 trillion yen. The results were almost in line with the company's expectations. The March 11 quake and tsunami, which damaged some production bases, dented net profit by 75 billion yen, the company said. Sales were reduced by 130 billion yen due mainly to delays in shipments, said the company, whose products range from computer hard- and software to nuclear power generation systems. "Hitachi suffered damage to its buildings and production facilities, in-process products and other assets," the company said in a statement, adding that it also faced delays in agreeing new contracts, AFP reports. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |