TOKYO (AFP) - Sony said on Thursday its net loss for the April-September period ballooned to nearly 109.1 billion yen (S$1.27 billion), as the embattled electronics firm continues to struggle in the fiercely competitive smartphone business.

Its net loss compares to a loss of 16.5 billion yen in the same period last year.

Sony's operating loss of 15.8 billion yen reversed an profit of 49.4 billion last year, although sales ticked up 6.5 percent to 3.71 trillion yen.