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Lowest profit since Q3 2014
Samsung39;s Q1 profit will likely show another slumpanalysts
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SEOUL, Jan 6 Reuters Samsung Electronics Co Ltd flagged on Friday its quarterly profit tumbled by twothirds to an eightyear low as a weakening global economy hammered memory chip prices and curbed demand for electronic devices.

The dismal profit estimate by the world39;s largest memory chip, smartphone and TV maker a bellwether for global consumer demand sets a weak tone for other technology firms39; quarterly results.

Samsung39;s profits are expected to shrink again in the current quarter, analysts said, after the South Korean company announced its OctoberDecember operating profit likely fell 69 to 4.3 trillion won 3.37 billion from 13.87 trillion won a year earlier.

It was Samsung39;s smallest quarterly profit since the third quarter of 2014 and fell short of a 5.9 trillion won Refinitiv SmartEstimate, which is weighted toward forecasts from analysts who are more consistently accurate.

All of Samsung39;s businesses had a hard time, but chips and mobile especially, said Lee Minhee, analyst at BNK Investment Securities.

Quarterly revenue likely fell 9 from the same period a year earlier to 70 trillion won, Samsung said in a short preliminary earnings statement. Asia39;s fourthbiggest listed company by market value will release detailed earnings on Jan. 31.

Rising global…