Computer maker Fujitsu Ltd. said Wednesday its net loss for the first half narrowed to 58.56 billion yen, citing the absence of a major restructuring charge booked a year ago.

The company lost 147.44 billion yen during the same period last year, when it booked a 150 billion yen charge to revamp its businesses.

Revenue for the April-September period fell 0.4 percent to 2.14 trillion yen.

Following a gloomy start, the mood in the information technology sector improved during the last three months of the first half, with more businesses restarting their IT investment, Fujitsu said.

Sales in the firm's software business fell 1 percent during the six-month period, while operating profit was nearly halved to 28.8 billion yen, dragged down by a poor showing in North America and by heavy development investment.

The firm's hardware business narrowed its operating loss by 10 billion yen to 20.7 billion yen -- despite a 6 percent drop in sales -- thanks to cost-cutting moves.

Sales of personal computers and mobile handsets were brisk, though this could not offset sluggish sales of server and network equipment, the company said.

The firm's electronic component business narrowed its operating loss to 1.2 billion yen, on a 15.8 percent increase in sales, buoyed by strong demand for plasma display panels and semiconductors for digital audiovisual products and mobile handsets.

Hitachi falters

Meanwhile, rival Hitachi Ltd. said its net profit for the first half dropped 5 percent to 5.38 billion yen.

Revenue stood at 4.04 trillion yen, up 3 percent from a year earlier.

The company said its operating loss during the first three months of the April-September period was made up somewhat during the second quarter.

For the full year through March, the company forecasts a group net profit of 10 billion yen on revenue of 8.35 trillion yen.