Optronics projects laptop screen prices could rise more than $20 each in next few months Taiwan’s AU Optronics, the world’s third-largest maker of LCD screens, reported a 97 percent drop in its second-quarter net profit, but said that business is picking up and that screen prices are on the rise.“We saw a strong rebound in demand for notebook computer screens,” said Max Cheng, AU’s chief financial officer. The company projected laptop screen prices could rise more than $20 each over the next few months, while LCD screens used in desktop PC monitors and televisions would likely see an increase of $5 to $10.Consumers could see an impact from the rising screen prices, and prices for some other computer parts are also on the rise. In addition, the falling value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies, like China’s renminbi, could push prices higher for IT products imported to the U.S. Computer components are quoted in U.S. dollars on global markets. For companies like AU and rival Samsung Electronics Co., the price rises are a relief. LCD screen makers had been cutting prices in previous months because the construction of too many new factories had caused a glut.AU posted a net profit of NT$470 million during the second quarter (US$15.0 million as of June 30, the last day of the period being reported), down from NT$14.4 billion for the same period a year ago. But it marked a return to profit from the January to March quarter, when AU posted a loss of NT$2.1 billion. AU’s revenue in the second quarter was NT$46.2 billion, down 5 percent from the same time last year.The company raised its forecast for spending on new plants and equipment next year, to between NT$70 billion and NT$75 billion, on expectations that demand for LCD-TVs may continue to rise. Its previous forecast was for NT$55 billion to NT$60 billion. This year, AU predicts it will spend NT$75 billion, down from NT$82 billion last year. AU may seek orders from Siemens in the future for mobile phone LCD screens. The company shares its chairman with BenQ, which agreed in June to take over Siemens’ loss-making mobile phone division. Currently, AU does no work for the German company, said K.Y. Lee, chairman of AU Optronics and BenQ, in answer to a question during the company’s second-quarter investor conference. Technology Industry