Mitsubishi has chalked-up its first drop in overall sales in over five years, as the loss for its first half rose to Y31.79 billion (about $240 million). The company has been hit by both falling sales, like Hitachi (see separate story), and by restructuring costs. Its figures include a charge of Y18 billion related to its withdrawal from semiconductor production in the US. For the same period (to 30 September) the previous year Mitsubishi lost Y26.28 billion. Sales for first half fiscal 98 dropped 2 per cent to Y1.79 trillion, and the company has also been hit by increased borrowing costs, both in Japan and overseas. ®