Sony predicts return to profits as it post record loss The creator of the Walkman music player and PlayStation games console forecast an operating profit of 180 billion yen for the year to next March, compared with a consensus estimate of 173 billion yen among 18 analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. It forecast a full-year net profit of 30 billion yen. In the year just ended, Sony posted an operating loss of 67.3 billion yen, lower than the average 95 billion yen loss estimated by 17 analysts. Hobbled by losses from its TV business and competition in mobile phones and other devices from rivals Apple and Samsung Electronics, Sony is struggling to make money. Under new chief executive Kazuo Hirai, Sony is slashing costs and cutting 10,000 jobs in a bid to turnaround its struggling TV unit. While considering partnerships to help Sony compete better in TVs, Mr Hirai is looking to cameras, gaming and smartphones to spur growth. Since the start of the year, Sony shares have tumbled 58pc, while the benchmark Nikkei 225 index .has declined 13pc. At current levels, Sony is worth less than a tenth of Samsung and just 3pc of Apple.