Sony falls short of Q2 earnings estimates, banks on VR headset

Tokyo

SONY Corp declined to its lowest in two months after the Japanese electronics maker reported second-quarter profit that missed estimates, while investors tried to assess the performance of the company's new virtual-reality headset.

The shares fell as much as 2.6 per cent to their lowest on an intraday basis since Aug 19. Operating profit, hit by a one-time charge and stronger yen, was 45.7 billion yen (S$612.8 million) for the period ended September. That compares with the 49.7 billion yen average of analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg before the company disclosed a 33 billion yen charge from the sale of its unprofitable battery unit to Murata Manufacturing Co.