NEC Corp. has lowered its group earnings forecast to an expected group net loss of 25 billion yen for the 2002 business year, which ended March 31, the firm said Tuesday.

The electronics giant, which had previously predicted a consolidated net profit of 10 billion yen, is now on its way to logging a net loss for the second straight year after writing down its shareholdings.

The company has not posted a net loss for two consecutive years since it was first listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.