[Pixalo]

Nikon Corp. said Monday its group net profit jumped about 60 per cent for the fiscal third quarter on brisk sales of digital cameras and imaging devices.

The maker of cameras and precision equipment posted a net profit of 23 billion yen (US$190 million) in the October-December period, up from 14.5 billion yen the same quarter a year earlier.

The jump in profits came on a 21 per cent rise in sales to 234.3 billion yen ($1.94 billion) for the third quarter, up from 192.9 billion yen a year earlier.

The Tokyo-based Nikon said its earnings rose as its two main divisions - imaging devices and precision equipment - all posted brisk sales.

A weaker-thank-expected yen against the dollar and the euro also helped its earnings, the company said.

In its digital camera business, its compact and single-lens reflex models, especially D80 and D40 models, both put on sale last year, continued to attract consumers, Nikon said.

For this financial year through March 31, it raised its group net profit projection to 51 billion ($421.49 million) from 45 billion yen in an earlier estimate and raised its group sales forecast to 800 billion yen ($6.61 billion) from 797 billion yen.

Nikon's earnings are based on Japanese accounting standards.

Nikon shares closed at 2,610 yen ($21.57), down 0.76 per cent from Friday's finish, shortly before earnings were announced.

[Dave]

I knew I paid too much for my D200