Thursday, May 9, 5:05 AM
More on Sony (SNE): FQ4 net profit of ¥93.9B beats estimates on one-time gains related to asset sales. The quarterly results lead the company to report its first full-year profit in five years as the bottom line showed a gain of ¥43B, versus a horrific ¥457B loss in the previous year. A weaker yen helps results and is expected to drive a ¥50B profit in FY14 (analysts expect ¥66B).
Comment![Tech, Earnings]
Thursday, May 9, 4:06 AMSony (SNE) posted FQ4 net profit of ¥93.9B ($948M). Revenue of $1.73T (+8.3% Y/Y). (PR)
1 Comment[Earnings, Breaking News]
Monday, May 6, 8:49 PM
Japanese shares gain in early trade as markets reopened and play catch-up after a four-day weekend. The Nikkei Average pops 2.8% to 14,078, rising above the 14,000-point level for the first time since June 2008: Toyota (TM +4.4%), Nissan (NSANY.PK +4.6%), Sony (SNE +3.8%) and Nintendo (NTDOY.PK +2.9%).
Comment![Global & FX]
Friday, May 3, 10:33 AM
The slow start to the movie season could get a jumpstart from the 22 big-budget films slated for the summer months - compared to the 15 +$100M budget films last summer. Though the industry could make up some ground with theater revenue down 12% Y/Y so far, the crowded schedule will also pressure studios to increase their marketing spending and could leave a few of them with +$150M losses on flops to pass on to their parent companies (SNE, VIAB, CMCSA, LGF, TWX, DWA) .
Comment![Consumer]
Wednesday, May 1, 1:37 PM
A standoff between movie studios (SNE, VIAB, CMCSA, LGF, TWX) and China's government over the percentage of the box office take studios can keep could have big implications on revenue totals down the road. Moving to a 25% cut from 13%-17% seemed like a big win, until China starting toying around with some extra taxes to levy on the group. The development is also something to watch for IMAX if it sees its pipeline cut down a bit. The tricky part: Playing hardball with China means studios risk getting banned from the country entirely to see that cut go all the way to 0%.
1 Comment[Consumer]
Friday, April 26, 5:46 AM
Samsung (SSNLF.PK) strengthened its lead as the world's top vendor of mobile phones and of smartphones in Q1, IDC estimates. The South Korean giant increased its market share in the latter category to 32.7% from 28.8 a year earlier and shipped more smartphones than the next four providers combined. Apple's (AAPL) share slipped to 17.3% from 23%. The global cellular phone market grew 4% on year to 418.6M devices, with smartphones outshipping feature phones for the first time.
24 Comments[Tech, Consumer, Top Stories]
Thursday, April 25, 5:22 AM
Sony (SNE) has doubled its FY 2013 net profit estimate to ¥40B ($400M) from prior guidance of ¥20B, due to the weaker yen and asset sales, and after the improving stock market boosted earnings at the company's life insurance operations. Sony also increased its estimate for operating profit to ¥230B from ¥130B and for sales to ¥6.8T from ¥6.6T. Shares +3.1% premarket.
4 Comments[Tech, Consumer, On the Move, Earnings]
Wednesday, April 17, 11:12 AM
Movie studios (DIS, TWX, CMCSA, LGF, VIA, VIAB, SNE) might be asleep at the switch, according data compiled from an industry trade group. While movies rated PG-13 almost doubled the return of R-rated movies in 2012, studios released twice as many of the R-rated variety. If box office numbers for Q1 are any indicator, execs haven't learned the lesson yet.
2 Comments[Consumer]
Friday, April 12, 12:05 PM
Sony (SNE -2.2%) indicates in a Weibo message that it may be back on track to see Djiango Unchained debut on screens in China. The development is being closely watched by the film industry with an eye on future production after director Quentin Tarantino had already made what were believed to be enough edits to make the Chinese-version of the film pass muster with officials.
Comment![Consumer, Global & FX]
Thursday, April 11, 8:14 AM
Chinese regulators pull Quentin Tarantino movie Django Unchained from theaters in the country on its opening day due to "technical" problems. The late action shows the tightrope movie studios face (TWX, LGF, VIA, SNE) in producing movies to clear Chinese censors in the face of growing box office opportunities in the nation. (Previous: Hollywood scripts aim to please Chinese audiences)
2 Comments[Consumer]
Thursday, April 11, 6:58 AM
Sony (SNE) thinks it can increase TV sales above its target of 13.5M units for the current fiscal year even as it loses market share to Samsung. If the company is to make its goal, it will gave to make strides in sales of LCD sets - a segment forecast to grow 7% this year to 216M.
Comment![Global & FX, Consumer]
Wednesday, April 3, 11:25 AM
Sony (SNE -3.2%) and Olympus (OCPNY.PK) plan to set up their medical device joint venture on April 16 after landing antitrust approval in key regions. Sources say China is still a sticking point.
1 Comment[Consumer, Global & FX]
Tuesday, April 2, 9:58 AM
Macquarie upgrades Sony (SNE +3.4%) to Outperform from Neutral after giving consideration to the restructuring moves at the company. Sony's strong moves in the smartphone market in Taiwan are also drawing some attention.
3 Comments[Consumer, Global & FX]
Erick Lee $NOK down to 4.43 in pre-market. just a wild guess, $SNE becoming a new threat?
Jan 18, 7:42 AM
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Erick Lee: be plenty more market for these companies to steal from :)
Jan 18, 9:53 AM
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DeepValueLover: $SNE and $NOK should enter a joint R&D partnership and share patent royalties.
Jan 18, 10:14 PM
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Dr. Kris TV set makers $SNE & $PCRFY.OB on the comeback trail. $SNE breaking $11.50 resistance, testing $12; $PC testing $6.50, +35% since Nov.
Jan 17, 2:00 PM
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bd4uandu: Isn't that the concept of Apple TV and I think Intel was also going to revolutionize TV this year at least that was the rumor before CES.
Jan 17, 3:38 PM
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Dr. Kris: I guess that's the concept behind Apple TV & Roku, but it would be nice if you could program your computer directly from your phone/laptop.
Jan 17, 3:55 PM
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Philip Saglimbeni Sony's $SNE new patent will reportedly block used games. I think this is a mistake and could lead to an even bigger advantage for $MSFT
bilton NPD Videogame Dec Sales drop 22% to $3.21B. Hardware $1.07B (-20%),Software $1.54B (-26%),Accessories $603B (-14%) $MSFT $SNE $NTDOY.PK $GME
Jan 10, 6:47 PM
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bilton: NPD Dec Game sales ranking: 1) Black Ops, 2) Just Dance 4, 3) Halo 4, 4)Assassin's Creed III
Jan 10, 6:50 PM
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Seppo2 90's is back. Just got little $SNE @11.04 to keep company to my long $NOK
12/19/12
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turtledividend: With the euro crisis easing combined with euro monetary increasing, it will surely play a positive factor for $NOK.
12/19/12
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oneinfiniteloop: I have never played in currency markets. I am waiting for Gold to start its downward trend, that will coincide with upward movement in Yen.
12/19/12
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Dr. Kris Noted here yesterday: Bullish island reversals in TV set makers $PCRFY.OB & $SNE. Sharp ($SHCAY) doing the same thing today.
Dr. Kris What's even more depressing than Sony (SNE) hitting a new all-time low? Panasonic (PCRFY.OB) doing the same thing. Will the bloodshed ever end?
11/14/12
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Dr. Kris: I didn't know shortselling was a sector.