Hitachi leads the J-dinosaurs race to extinction

[Taro Toporific]

Japan electronics conglomerates set for Q1 losses
Reuters, Tuesday, July 26, 2005 1:26:30 AM ET
TOKYO ---Japan's big four electronics conglomerates, led by Hitachi Ltd., are expected to post quarterly losses this week due to a slump in their chip businesses ...
Hitachi, a sprawling giant with products ranging from nuclear power systems to plasma panels, bought International Business Machines Corp.'s disk drive division in 2002 for $2.05 billion, and targeted the unit as one of its core businesses. But the hard disk operations have been mired in the red in recent years, hit by low production yields and fierce competition from rivals such as U.S.-based Seagate Technology.
In contrast, Seagate, the world's largest hard disk drive maker, last week posted a record quarterly profit....more....

[Mulboyne]

Hitachi has been mulling a sale of their white goods division for years now - even soliciting tender offers from private equity goups. As soon as they see a better economic data, though, they shelve the plans in the hope that the rising tode will float all boats.

That is not great strategic planning.