TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony ( SONY ) on Thursday hiked its operating profit forecast for the year ending March by 2% to 1.34 trillion yen ($8.70 billion), citing the strength of its key gaming business.

Operating profit in the third quarter was 469.3 billion yen, up 1% on the same period a year earlier, helped by growth in games and music.

Once best known for consumer electronics such as the Walkman, Sony's ( SONY ) business spans games, movies, music and image sensors.

President Hiroki Totoki is strengthing his grip over the conglomerate, taking the CEO role from April 1.

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