Sony seen posting first op loss in 14 years

Sony Corp is expected to post an operating loss of about 100 billion yen ($1.1 billion) for 2007/08, the Nikkei business daily reported, far short of the company forecast for a profit of 200 billion yen.

The operating loss -- Sony's first in 14 years -- could be double that, depending on inventory conditions in the January-March quarter, the Nikkei said it had learned.

In October, Sony forecast a full-year operating profit of 200 billion yen for the year to March 31, down from 475.2 billion yen in 2006/07.

The loss would be only the second since Sony went public in 1958 and the first caused by troubles in its mainstay electronics business, the Nikkei said.