Sony profits soar nearly seven-fold to $4.5 bn

Tokyo (AFP) – Sony on Friday reported profits worth $4.5 billion, extending a roaring recovery supported by better sales of smartphone image sensors and movies, and improvement in its finance businesses.

The firm said its net yearly profit reached 490.8 billion yen ($4.5 billion), compared with 73.3 billion yen a year earlier, thanks to increased sales across the board and favourable foreign exchange rates.