STOCK WATCH

Hewlett Packard

Hewlett Packard has reported third-quarter profit of $853m, a rise of 37 per cent on the $621m earned for the same period last year. For the three months ended 31 July, the vendor reported an increase in turnover of 11 per cent to $12.2bn, up from $11bn a year ago.

TDK

Shares in TDK rose to an all-time high after the vendor beat analysts' estimates, despite a fall in profit. For the three months ended 30 June, profit fell 15 per cent to Y11.7bn - analysts had expected a fall of 20 per cent. Turnover also dropped 5.3 per cent to Y164.3bn.

Samsung

Samsung Electronics registered a 795 per cent increase in half-year profit up from Won150.1bn for the first half of 1998 to Won1.3tn. Sales for the first half of 1999, ended 30 June, were Won12.1tn, up 15 per cent on the same period last year.

Analog Devices

Semiconductor maker Analog Devices reported higher than expected third-quarter profit of $54.6m on sales of $379m for the three months ended 31 July, compared with $26.4m and $295.7m respectively for the same period last year.

Tandberg Data

Tandberg Data reported worse than expected profit of Kr15m for its second quarter ended 30 June, despite a turnaround from a Kr18.5m loss for the same period last year. Sales increased 50 per cent year-on-year from Kr212m to Kr317m.

The performance was linked to aggressive pricing in the tape market.