Nikon Corp. announced financial results for the third quarter

Net sales for the nine months ended Dec. 31 were Yen 700 billion (Euro 5.9 billion), a decrease from the Yen 712 billion (Euro 6 billion) reported for the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2007. Net income for the three-month period in 2008 was Yen 31 billion (Euro 262 million), a 48.3 percent decrease from the Yen 60 billion (Euro 507 million) reported in 2007.

The Imaging Products Business recorded an increase in revenue but a decrease in earnings from the same period as the previous year, despite a solid performance in popular DSLR and compact digital cameras. The stronger yen, more intense competition, and slowing of sales of high-priced models were all factors is the decreased earnings, says Nikon.

Nikon is forecasting net sales for the full year ended March 31 to be around Yen 860 billion (Euro 7.2 billion), an increase from the previous year. The company forecasts net income to be around Yen 24 billion (Euro 202 million), a decrease from the previous full year period.