Panasonic said Friday it had logged another eye-watering net loss in the year to March, coming up US$7.5 billion short, but pledging to turn a profit over the next 12 months.

Japan's Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp., the world's second-biggest steelmaker, on Friday posted a US$1.2 billion net loss in its fiscal year to March.

Struggling Japanese electronics giant Sony on Thursday said it booked its first annual net profit in five years, offering a glimmer of hope for the former market leader.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world's largest contract chip-maker, said yesterday it will allocate US$1.5 billion (NT$44.3 billion) in 2013 to boost its capability in research and development (R&D).

Profit-taking dragged down shares of Pegatron Corp., one of Taiwan's leading contract notebook computer makers, yesterday, but a sales outlook for the second half of this year remains upbeat, dealers said.

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae earned a record US$58.7 billion from January through March, benefiting from a one-time accounting move that allowed the company to lower its tax liability.

Shares of UMC yesterday surged by NT$0.50, or 4.31 percent, closing at a seventh-month high of NT$12.01, following the release of encouraging first-quarter results.

MediaTek Inc., one of Taiwan's leading integrated circuit (IC) designers, said Wednesday that its consolidated sales for April hit a 39-month high on the back of solid demand from China.

Shares of Acer Inc., one of the world's leading personal computer makers, moved higher Wednesday morning after the company reported a day earlier that it turned a profit in the first quarter, dealers said.

Taiwanese computer maker Acer Inc. said Wednesday that it is aiming for single-digit growth in shipments in the current quarter after returning to profitability in the first quarter.