Sony Posts Record Quarterly Profit

Sony Corp. posted record quarterly sales and profit, fueled by strong demand for its PlayStation video-game machine, Wega TVs, MiniDisc players and “Men in Black” video.

Group net profit for the October-December quarter soared a higher-than-expected 46% from a year earlier to $878 million. Sales rose 20% to $16 billion.

Sony raised its earnings forecasts for the full year to March, on expectations demand will continue.

Including software, the PlayStation system accounted for 14% of Sony’s sales during the period, and a quarter of its operating profit.