Acer '05 operating income to be up by 67%

TAIPEI: Acer Inc., Taiwan's largest personal computer firm, said it expects operating income to rise 67 percent to $190 million in 2005 from this year.

Acer, the world's fifth largest PC firm by revenue, set a 2005 target for profit after tax of $229 million, similar to that of 2004, due to less income from fewer stock disposals, a statement said.

Acer said consolidated revenue for 2005 is expected to reach $9 billion, or a 35 percent rise year on year. Revenue from its IT product business is forecast to rise 36 percent to $7.35 billion.