Bridgestone Raises Forecasts

Bridgestone Corporation says that sales and earnings for the first six months will be substantially higher than previously forecast. Net income will be around 29 billion Yen (US$ 241.4 m) or 32 per cent higher than announced in February.

Net income for the year as a whole is expected to be 77 billion Yen (US$ 641 m), 10 per cent higher than the earlier forecast. Reasons given for the increase are stronger than expected sales growth, better than forecast performances in Europe and the USA and the strengthening of the Euro..