Samsung expects smartphone demand to drive second half earnings
Live MintSamsung Electronics Co Ltd expects a global recovery in demand for smartphones and consumer electronics to underpin profits in the second half of the year, after a coronavirus-propelled shift to online working boosted quarterly earnings. Samsung, the world's top maker of memory chips, tempered its relatively upbeat forecast when announcing second quarter results on Thursday with a warning that the pandemic and trade disputes posed ongoing risks for earnings. Operating profit at Samsung's chip business surged 60% to 5.43 trillion won in the second quarter, accounting for two thirds of its total 8.1 trillion won profit. Samsung said it expected server demand for chips to remain solid for the remainder of the year and a boost in smartphone demand, given planned product launches and anticipated demand for 5G-capable phones.