Tokyo - Sharp sales in its audio/video segment climbed nearly 10 percent in the company's fiscal first half, hitting $2.8 billion, compared with $2.6 billion in the year-ago period.

Sales of home appliances, however, dipped over 5 percent in the first six months ended Sept. 30, down to $976.8 million, from the $1 billion recorded in the same six months in 2001.

Sales in North America took a slight drop in the first half of the fiscal year, down to $1.47 billion, compared with $1.5 billion in the previous half year. Operating income in The Americas during the first half slumped to $23.6 million, down from 35.7 million in the same period last year.

Sales in consumer/information products rose to $5.2 billion in the first half, up from $5.1 billion in the year-ago period. Operating income in the consumer/information segment during the first six months reached $148.9 million, compared with $129.1 million in the same six months last year.

Overall Sharp sales hit $8 billion in the first half, down 8.5 percent from the $8.1 billion registered in the same six months in 2000.

Sharp is forecasting sales will fall to $14.8 billion in the full fiscal year ending next March, while profits will drop 32 percent, down to $213 million.