Sony promises more games to boost PS3 demand

Responding to a shareholder request for higher dividend payouts, Welsh-born Stringer said Sony management is willing to re-examine its dividend policy, but achieving its profitability target should come first.

Sony aims to hit a group-wide operating profit margin of 5 percent in the current business year, and a 4 percent margin for its electronics division.

In the past business year, when its earnings were hit by the massive loss at the game unit and costs to recall 9.6 million PC batteries, its overall operating margin came to 0.9 percent, and its mainstay electronics unit posted a 2.6 percent margin.

"Upon achieving our profitability target, we would consider whether to change our dividend policy," Stringer said.

Sony's annual dividend have remained at 25 yen per share for the past seven years.

Following Stringer's comments, Sony shares closed down 1.5 percent at 6,520 yen, underperforming the Tokyo stock market's electrical machinery index, which gained 0.49 percent.

($1=123.58 Yen)

(Additional reporting by Nathan Layne, Kentaro Hamada)