Sony Shock Again? Slump May Mean Operating Loss

"We need to rely more on other regions and not depend so much on the U.S.," he told reporters at a recent reception for executives.

People walk outside Sony Corp.'s headquarters in Tokyo Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009. Sony will post a 100...

People walk outside Sony Corp.'s headquarters in Tokyo Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009. Sony will post a 100 billion yen (US$1.1 billion) operating loss this fiscal year through March, its first since 1995, media reports said Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

(AP)

Instead, the potential for growth in East Asia, with its appetite for Sony goods, could help reverse Sony's fate, Chubachi said.

In October, Sony lowered its operating forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31 to 200 billion yen ($2.2 billion) profit from an earlier 470 billion yen ($5.3 billion) it gave in July. It is expecting 150 billion yen ($1.7 billion) net profit, which includes taxes and extraordinary items.

Sony is expected to release its third fiscal quarter (Oct-Dec) earnings on Jan 29.

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