Four of Japan's five big electronics concerns are planning to sharply curb their capital investments for semiconductor production this financial year. Earnings from semiconductor operations faltered in the year to March 31, the companies said.

While NEC is planning 180 billion yen (about HK$10 billion) investments, the same as last year, Toshiba will spend 140 billion yen, down 17.6 per cent year-on-year. Fujitsu has budgeted 90 billion yen, down 48.7 per cent, and Mitsubishi Electric is cutting by 44.4 per cent to 50 billion yen. Hitachi plans 80 billion yen, down 33.3 per cent.