TOKYO (AFX) - Canon Inc said its net profit in the nine months to September grew 5.1 pct year-on-year to 275.89 bln yen while pretax profit rose 3.9 pct to 439.04 bln, boosted by brisk sales of its digital cameras and other digital equipment.

By sector, sales from cameras, accounting for 22 pct of the total, were up 13.7 pct from a year before at 582.31 bln yen in the first nine months, while sales of office equipment, the largest category accounting for 68 pct, posted a 4.2 pct rise to 1.79 trln yen.

The major maker of printers, digital cameras and other digital equipment said net profit for the third quarter to September fell 1.1 pct as the comparative figure last year included a one-off gain relating to the return of private pension funds.

Operating profit for the quarter declined 9.3 pct from the previous year to 143.56 bln yen, while pretax profit fell 4.5 pct to 155.31 bln as expenses for sales/administration grew 13.8 pct.

But sales for the September quarter rose 4.8 pct to 878.50 bln yen, fanned by brisk demand for digital cameras and digital-related products, it said.

This is cache, read story here