Sony's profits rises on robust performance for music, movies and games
Japanese technology and entertainment company Sony logged an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year through March on healthy results at its music and video-game operations.
Tokyo-based Sony Corp. said Wednesday that its annual profit totaled 1.14 trillion yen ($7.8 billion), up from 970.6 billion yen in the previous fiscal year.
Annual sales were virtually unchanged, inching down to 12.957 trillion yen ($88 billion) from 13.020 trillion yen.
One area that lagged among Sony's sprawling businesses was the financial segment, where revenue stalled. But its film division and its imaging and sensor solutions segment did well.
Among the movies that fared positively at the box office for the fiscal year through March were 'Venom: The Last Dance,' featuring the Marvel Comics superhero, and 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die,' an action comedy, in which Will Smith and Martin Lawrence come back in their popular cop roles, the fourth installment in the series.
Sony, which makes the PlayStation console and game software played on that machine, also marked healthy results in the gaming business.
Its music operations, which also held up, include recordings, streaming services and music for games. The top-selling recorded music projects for the latest fiscal year globally was SZA's 'SOS Deluxe: LANA,' followed by Beyonce, Future & Metro Boomin and Travis Scott.
For the Japan music business, the top-seller was Kenshi Yonezu's 'Lost Corner' album, followed by offerings from Stray Kids and Six Tones.
For the January-March quarter, Sony posted a 197.7 billion yen ($1.3 billion) profit, up 5% from 189 billion yen the same quarter in the previous fiscal year. Sales were 2.6 trillion yen ($17.7 billion), down 24% from 3.48 trillion yen.
Sony is forecasting a nearly 13% drop in profit for the fiscal year through March 2026, to 930 billion yen ($6.3 billion), on 11.7 trillion yen ($80 billion) sales, down 2.9% on-year.
Sony officials are set to brief reporters on the latest company strategy for growth later in the day. Sony stocks lost 3% in Tokyo morning trading.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
44 minutes ago
- Time Out
Pizza Studio Tamaki Review: Tokyo's cult-favourite pizzeria opens in Singapore on June 10
It's days before the opening of Pizza Studio Tamaki (PST), and we're sitting in its first Singapore outlet in Tanjong Pagar. The Tokyo-based pizzeria takes over the spot that used to house cocktail bar Tippling Club, and apart from doing away with the hanging glass bottle display that used to dangle across the bar counter, all other fixtures remain pretty much the same. The first thing we hear is that since PST Singapore opened reservations to the public recently, it's already seen a jaw-dropping 2,000 tables booked, even before the official launch on June 10. We do our homework before visiting, and that's how we find out about the brand's seriously studded rep – it's been given stamps of approval by Michelin, 50 Top Pizza, and has even hosted the likes of Jeff Bezos and Justin Bieber when they visited Japan. So, will these famed Tokyo-Neapolitan slices live up to the hype? First, a glance at the menu. There are around 12 pizzas categorised as either tomato or cheese-based, over 10 appetisers, desserts, coffee, and several cocktails crafted by Bar on 38 – another famous pizza joint in Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. While it's not master pizzaiolo Tsubasa Tamaki who'll be firing up slices over at the Singapore branch, he's left the job to his trusted protégé, Ryosuke Tanahara, who's trained under him for close to three years, and can replicate his elusive dough recipe to a tee. Speaking of dough, PST employs a highly specific formula developed by Tamaki himself, using a proprietary blend of Canadian and American wheat flour milled in Japan. The dough is lightly fermented for 30 hours – unlike the 48-to-72-hour proofing periods commonly seen in other Italian restaurants – so it achieves a light, fluffy texture which pulls apart almost like mochi. We sink our teeth into the Tamaki pizza ($29), a 12-inch classic topped with Datterini tomatoes, fresh smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano, and fresh basil. Despite being the most simply constructed of the pizzas we'll be trying, it's easily our favourite. The waiter gives us a much-needed tip: gently press down on the cherry tomatoes before eating. Doing so releases a fresh, fragrant waft of sweetness that greatly adds to the experience. But what's arguably better is the fine dusting of salt that we can distinctly taste on the crust. It turns out that the base of the woodfire oven is lightly seasoned with Okinawan salt for an added layer of umami. And if you prefer less char or salt on your pizzas, customisations are more than welcome. The Bismarck ($32) that arrives soon after falls a tad short of expectations, with the Hinata egg cracked in the middle reaching us slightly underdone, but the spicy Arrabbiata ($30) quickly makes up for it. It's got the same Datterini tomatoes, pork nduja, Aomori garlic, and calabria (chilli flakes) that are slow-dried in-house. Being the spice-lovers that we are, we're glad to say this packs a punch. The 5 Formaggi ($34) is equally well done, with a medley of smoked mozzarella, gorgonzola, taleggio, grana padano and mascarpone. The best part, though, is that the acacia honey, which at this point should be known as a mandatory pairing with cheese pizza, comes at no extra charge. We also try several appetisers, from caramelised pumpkins with a balsamic reduction ($16) to Angus beef and pork meatballs in tomato sauce ($18) – all of which are decent but otherwise unmemorable. If you find yourself in the good graces of the reservation system and manage to snag a table, we'd say splash out on the pizzas instead. After all, there are 12 on the menu to sample, with nothing crossing the $40 mark.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
China's forex reserves up $3.6 billion in May, less than expected
BEIJING, June 7 (Reuters) - China's foreign exchange reserves rose by a less-than-expected $3.6 billion in May, official data showed on Saturday, as the dollar continued to weaken against other major currencies. The country's foreign exchange reserves, the world's largest, rose 0.11% to $3.285 trillion last month, below the Reuters forecast of $3.292 trillion. They were $3.282 trillion in April. The increase in reserves was due to "the combined effects of factors such as exchange rate conversion and asset price changes," China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange said in a statement. The yuan weakened 1.05% against the dollar in May, while the dollar slid 0.23% against a basket of other major currencies .
The Review Geek
2 hours ago
- The Review Geek
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) Movie Review – Dan Trachtenberg keeps on giving us the best Predator movies
Dan Trachtenberg keeps on giving us the best Predator movies Dan Trachtenberg is at it again! The director of Prey gives us the latest incredible addition to the franchise, Predator: Killer of Killers. The movie almost behaves like an anthology, portraying Predators hunting their targets in three different scenarios: the Viking era, feudal Japan, and World War II USA. By the end, the human survivors are gathered on the Yautja planet for a last fight à la Predators (2010). Even though the three segments are very different, all of them are equally great. The first one follows Ursa, her son, Anders, and their clan as they embark on a journey of revenge. Their objective is to kill Zoran, the man who made her kill her father when she was a kid. Little do they know, someone (or should I say, something) is hunting them, as well. The Yautja is built like a tank, fitting the massive Viking bodies and weapons. The second segment — the best of them all — follows two Japanese brothers who love each other deeply but are put against each other by their father. A conflict between them changes the direction of their lives; one becomes the feudal lord, while the other, Kenji, turns into a ronin. They only meet again years later during a fatal confrontation, which a Yautja interrupts. This time, the creature is way leaner and stealthier, almost acting as a ronin, too. The last story is the most different. Torres has always wanted to be a pilot, and even in the middle of the war, he can't seem to achieve his dream. However, what grants him the opportunity to prove himself is a Predator attacking the US army. Unlike anything we've seen, the monster doesn't charge the soldiers, dismantling their bodies with his weapons. The alien only attacks them with his ship, creating a different kind of battle. Even after almost an hour, the movie still manages to feel fresh and use new ideas. One of Prey's greatest strengths came from its Predator design and how it fits the scenery of the movie. Trachtenberg obviously learned from that experience because he does the same here three times. It's not only their bodies that fit the space they're in, but also their movements. The first relies more on big blows, and his weapons are less futuristic than the others. The second rarely stops using his invisibility, counting on his stealthiness to kill enemies. The Yautja using the ship doesn't wear armour like the others or feel as menacing, implying that he mainly fights with the vehicle. Still, they have one thing in common: no one would like to face off against them, even with the heaviest artillery. The animation team also deserves high praise, as the film is beautiful. Each fight is fluid, frenetic, and exciting as it must be. That – and all the gore of course – make the kills even more satisfying to watch, gluing us to the screen. Even if it wasn't their intention, Killer of Killers proves the Predator franchise could benefit from a series like Love, Death & Robots. And as important as the Yautja are, the humans who survive the deadliest hunters of them all are equally as endearing. Each character shares a theme in their stories – stemming from their desires. Ursa journeys to avenge her father; Kenji fights his brother while carrying a similar anger, albeit not wanting his death, only to finish the first they had. Torres has the most optimistic tale of the bunch, wishing to prove his worth and achieve his dreams. Still, the desire fueling their bodies and lives is also what puts them on the Yautja's path. But surviving isn't the conclusion to their stories. The fight against the aliens and their new conflict brings changes to the characters. It's exciting to see how they evolve throughout the whole movie, sometimes in ways you didn't expect. Ursa easily becomes the best and most developed character in the end. Her final fight is a bittersweet thrill that pays homage to her son. Predator: Killer of Killers cements Dan Trachtenberg as the best director in the franchise. He knows his strengths and plays them well, always creating great designs, characters, and conflicts. And he's not done yet; with Badlands releasing in November, he's all set to bring us another all-time favourite this year. Even if it's still far off, there's a chance Dan directs the three best movies in the series. It's the year of Predator, and we're here for it.
