EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, March 12, 2008 (AFP) - Dutch electronics giant Philips said Wednesday it has further cut its stake in its South Korean joint venture, LG Philips LCD, the world's second-largest maker of flat panel screens.

BRUSSELS, Feb 22, 2008 (AFP) - EU competition regulators approved on Friday French electrical supplies company Rexel's takeover of Dutch rival Hagemeyer on condition the Dutch company sell its Irish wholesale business.

TOKYO, Feb 22, 2008 (AFP) - Major Japanese electronics stores have stopped selling HD DVD machines after their maker Toshiba conceded defeat to Sony's Blu-ray in the battle to set the next-generation DVD standard.

Toshiba Corp. announced Tuesday that it was throwing in the towel after Blu-ray won crucial support from leading Hollywood studios and large US retailers.

TOKYO, Feb 19, 2008 (AFP) - Japanese high-tech giant Toshiba on Tuesday announced its withdrawal from the high-definition DVD business, conceding defeat in a long-running format war with rival Sony.

TOKYO, Feb 19, 2008 (AFP) - Japanese high-tech giant Toshiba on Tuesday announced its withdrawal from the high-definition DVD business, conceding defeat in a long-running format war with rival Sony.

TOKYO, Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) - The end of a format war in high-definition DVDs will reduce consumer confusion but high prices mean the new players are likely to remain a niche market for now, analysts said Monday.

TOKYO, Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) - Sony's Blu-ray looks set to become the standard for high-definition DVDs after Toshiba signalled Monday that it may give up in a long-running format battle, to the relief of investors.

Toshiba Corp. is reviewing its HD DVD business and 'a complete withdrawal is one of the options it is considering,' an industry source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

TOKYO, Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) - Investors on Monday welcomed Toshiba's signals that it may abandon the HD DVD format, surrendering to rival Sony's Blu-ray in the battle to set the next standard of high-definition DVDs.

TOKYO, Feb 16, 2008 (AFP) - Japan's Toshiba, which has led the HD DVD video disks format, plans to withdraw from the business as it is losing the battle against rival Sony's Blu-ray format, a report said Saturday.

The company is in the final stage of deciding the pullout, public broadcaster NHK said without naming sources.

TOKYO, Jan 30, 2008 (AFP) - Japanese electronics maker Canon Inc. said Wednesday it posted record earnings in 2007 on the back of brisk digital camera sales, although its net profit was slightly below expectations.

The maker of Ixy, Powershot and EOS brand digital cameras said its sales were boosted by the launch of new models and a bottoming out of the decline in camera prices.