TOKYO: Japan's SoftBank Group is likely to report a return to profit when it announces first-quarter earnings on Tuesday , analysts said, as its Vision Fund investing arm's portfolio of technology stocks enjoyed a rebound.
Investors will also be looking for updates on the potential blockbuster listing of portfolio chip designer Arm, which if successful would provide a further cash injection for the group and burnish Son's credentials as a farsighted tech investor. Its Vision Fund unit has booked five consecutive quarters of investment loss after backing high-growth firms which fell out of favour with the market, forcing the conglomerate into a defensive stance to preserve cash.
Analysts expect a return to profit could herald an uptick in new deals. Son in June said he plans to shift to"offence mode" amid excitement over advances in artificial intelligence .