Earnings roundup: Volkswagen, Sony Ericsson

Among the earnings stories for Wednesday, April 23, from AP Financial News:

Top stories:

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) _ Volkswagen said Wednesday that improved sales helped lift its first-quarter net profit by more than 25 percent and predicted a substantial increase in demand from Asia, Europe and South America.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) _ Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson on Wednesday reported a 48 percent drop in first-quarter net profits, citing slower sales growth in some of its markets.

Other stories:

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) _ Toy maker Jakks Pacific Inc. said first-quarter earnings fell 73 percent, missing Wall Street estimates, as legal, product testing, and restructuring costs ate into profit.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) _ Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB said Wednesday its first-quarter profit fell 11 percent, mainly with marketing costs promoting its Gripen fighter jets weighing on the results.

COBURG, Ore. (AP) _ Monaco Coach Corp. said Wednesday it fell to a first-quarter loss due to a decline in consumer spending.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) _ Semiconductor maker Infineon Technologies AG on Wednesday reported a wider second-quarter loss because of a weak performance from memory-chip unit Qimonda AG. It was Infineon's fifth consecutive quarterly loss.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Hair salon operator Regis Corp. said Wednesday its third-quarter profit more than tripled on price increases and higher same-store service sales.