Sony officials refused to comment on media reports that Nobuyuki Idei, chief executive and chairman, will step down and be replaced by Howard Stringer, the chairman and chief executive of Sony Corp. of America. Stringer also serves as Sony's vice chairman.
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What was dubbed "Sony shock" happened two years ago, when Sony share prices dropped on worse than expected earnings results. Although Sony's profits have improved since then, they have not made a dramatic revival.
Analysts also say Sony missed the boat with portable music players by delaying a release of products to play MP3 music files, taking a beating from the iPod by Apple Computer Inc.