Smartphones power Samsung to record profit

SEOUL: South Korea’s Samsung Electronics on Friday posted a record operating profit of 5.3 trillion won ($4.72 billion) in the fourth quarter, thanks largely to booming smartphone sales.

The company, the world’s largest technology firm by revenue, is battling US giant Apple for leadership of the global smartphone market.

It credited its flagship Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note brands for helping its telecoms businesses achieve a record quarterly operating profit of 2.64 trillion won.

“Despite intensified competition amid the global economic slowdown, our telecommunications businesses continued to post solid earnings with an enhanced line-up of high-end smartphones, resulting in higher average selling price,” said senior vice-president Robert Yi in a statement.

The overall quarterly operating profit figure, a 76 percent increase year-on-year, was largely in line with the earnings guidance issued early this month by the firm.

Revenue in October-December was 47.3 trillion won, a 13 percent rise year-on-year. Net profit of four trillion won was up 17 percent on a year earlier.

For the whole of last year the company logged a net profit of 13.7 trillion won, down 15 percent from the previous year. Revenue rose 6.7 percent to a record 165 trillion won and operating profit declined 6.05 percent to 16.2 trillion won.

Samsung overtook Apple in the third quarter of last year to become the world’s largest seller of smartphones, although it was unclear who held the lead in the fourth quarter.

The South Korean firm said its smartphone shipments rose about 30 percent in the fourth quarter compared with July-September but gave no number.

“For the global market outlook for this year, demand for entry-level smartphones and tablet PCs will increase significantly, while the growth momentum for feature phones is expected to stay static,” it said in a statement.

It tipped the overall smartphone market to grow by more than 30 percent this year.

Samsung, the world’s largest maker of flat panels, memory chips and flat-screen televisions, announced capital spending of 25 trillion won this year.

Some 15 trillion won of the total would be invested in chipmaking, to improve production lines and upgrade technology. Another 6.6 trillion won would be spent on the display panel division.

The firm also credited a stronger lineup of LED televisions for the improved quarter-on-quarter sales.

It said its chip business sustained profitability in the fourth quarter despite weak market demand, thanks to a mixture of high-margin products and strong demand for NAND flash memory chips used in smartphones and tablets. AGENCIES

Declaration imminent as Aussies push lead to 486

ADELAIDE: Australia increased their lead over India to 486 runs at the cost of two wickets on Friday morning, reaching lunch at 154 for five with a declaration imminent on the fourth day of the fourth test.  

Chasing a 4-0 series sweep, Australia had Ricky Ponting on 57 not out and Brad Haddin, who had made one, at the crease looking to build an unassailable tally before sending the tourists in to bat again.  

Resuming on 50 for three after losing their top order in the last hour on Friday, Clarke and Ponting, who both contributed double centuries to Australia’s first innings 604 for seven declared, combined for 71 runs before being separated.  

Australia skipper Clarke had survived a scare on 30 when spinner Ravi Ashwin could have dismissed him caught and bowled before Umesh Yadav brought an end to his highly successful series as a batsman for 37.  

The young quick beat Clarke for pace and there was enough of a noise to convince umpire Kumar Dharmasena that the Australian had got a nick before the ball went through to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.    

Ponting also gave the Indians a chance when he was on 45 with a miscued pull shot off a Yadav bouncer that Rahul Dravid, running at full stretch, could not quite hold despite getting two hands to the ball.  

The 37-year-old Tasmanian reached his 61st test half century soon afterwards with a single to the covers to continue his renaissance in this series after two years of poor form.  

Mike Hussey made 15 in 42 minutes before angrily following his captain back to the dressing room when he was adjudged trapped leg before by paceman Ishant Sharma.  

India, who topped the world rankings last year, were bowled out for 272 in their first innings on Thursday and will need a much stronger performance from their world class batsmen to avoid an eighth successive defeat in overseas tests. AGENCIES

Hockey: Pakistan beat Egypt 2-1

CAIRO: Pakistan Junior Hockey Team started their tour to Egypt on positive note, defeating their hosts by 2-1 on Saturday.

The first half of the match remained goalless.

Captain Umar Bhutta opened Pakistan’s account in the fourth minute of the second half. But the hosts came back strongly and scored the equalizer in the 51th minute of the game.

Two minutes before the game’s end, Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan scored the decisive goal to win the match 2-1.

The second match of the five-match test series will be played tonight. TrendPK

Fire burns record at old Abbottabad district court

ABBOTTABAD: A fire broke out in previous district court building in Abbottabad on Friday, turning all the record and other stuff into ashes.

Indian doctors attempt to perform 50 surgeries in 101 hours

World Cancer Day is celebrated on February 04. The surgeries will be conducted from Thursday at the hospital. Till now the hospital has recorded 38 patients who will be operated during the surgical marathon. In India, 700,000 to 800,000 cancer cases are reported every year. Cancer is the fourth largest killer in the world, with more than 440,000 people dying of the disease every year.

Four-day gas blockage continues in Punjab

LAHORE: More than 2, 000 CNG pumping stations continue to remain closed for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday across Punjab under National Energy Conservation Scheme.

According to Sui Northern Gas Company (SNGC), the gas supply will resume from Wednesday morning.

It said that industrial units of Lahore, Sahiwal and Sheikhupura regions will also start getting gas supply from Wednesday evening.

On the other hand, taxi and auto rickshaw drivers are fully exploiting the gas shortage by overcharging the travelers. TrendPK

Ranbir Kapoor voted Sexiest Asian Man

Ranbir Kapoor, the heartthrob of the nation, has been voted ‘Sexiest Asian Man’ as per a survey conducted by the London weekly Eastern Eye. Bollywood hunk John Abraham narrowly missed out on the top spot by finishing second while Hrithik Roshan occupied the third spot. R&B star Jay Sean and Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar bagged the fourth and fifth spots.

With Ranbir topping the Sexiest Asian Man poll, one can safely state that his fan following seems to be growing manifold with each passing day.

Sangakkara boosts Sri Lanka with unbeaten 135

COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakkara hit an impressive 135 not out under pressure to boost Sri Lanka in the second Test against the West Indies on Wednesday.

The skipper hit one six and 16 fours in a 252-ball knock for his 24th Test hundred as Sri Lanka posted 294-5 in their first innings at stumps on the second day.

Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on 12 when play was called off after tea due to rain.

Sangakkara steadied the innings with a record 170-run stand for the fourth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (80) after three wickets fell for 34 runs on a new pitch on Tuesday’s opening day.

The stand was the best for the fourth wicket in Sri Lanka-West Indies Tests, surpassing the previous highest of 167 between Chris Gayle and Brendan Nash in the drawn first match of the ongoing three-match series in Galle.

The West Indies, who bowled well in overcast

NZ’s McCullum defies India with ton in second Test

NEWDEHLI: New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum struck a superb 124 not out to defy India on the fourth day of the second Test on Monday.

McCullum, 29, hit 11 fours and three sixes in his 177-ball knock as the visitors reached 237-4 at close in reply to India’s first-innings 472, built around a record century by tailender Harbhajan Singh.

New Zealand, who made 350 in their first innings, lead by 115 runs with six wickets in hand.

Kane Williamson (12) was the other not out batsman at the crease when stumps were called for the day.

McCullum dominated India’s bowlers, hitting paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for a six over long-off and a four off the next ball before racing to his sixth Test century with another boundary.

He added 125 runs with Tim McIntosh to register New Zealand’s first century-stand for the opening wicket in six

Harbhajan’s ton extends India’s lead to 122 runs

HYDERABAD: Spinner Harbhajan Singh hit a second consecutive test hundred to extend India’s first innings lead to 122 runs over New Zealand before the hosts were dismissed on the fourth morning of the second test on Monday.

The off-spinner continued tormenting the visitors with an unbeaten 111, following up scores of 69 and 115 in the first test, and bludgeoned the New Zealand attack with seven boundaries and seven sixes to bring up his second test century.

Harbhajan added 105 runs for the last final with Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, who provided able support with 24 off 71 deliveries, before the hosts were all out for 472 in response to New Zealand’s 350.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori got Sreesanth out leg before to complete his 19th five-wicket haul in a test innings.

The three-match series is tied at 0-0 after the opening test at Ahmedabad was

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