Changhong's plasma display output hit by quake
SHANGHAI, May 19 (Reuters) - Sichuan Changhong Electric Co (600839.SS), one of China's largest TV and electrical appliance makers, has not yet resumed full output of plasma displays after it suffered damage from last week's devastating earthquake, a newspaper reported on Monday.
"At this moment, conditions are not such that we can fully restore production," Changhong's chief spokesman He Kesi said in an interview with China Business News.
He added that the firm, which has a market capitalisation of roughly 13.1 billion yuan ($1.87 billion) and competes with China's TCL Corp (000100.SZ), is still collecting data on the damage after it temporarily halted production at Mianyang city in Sichuan Province.
On Saturday, the official Shanghai Securities News said power had been restored to the firm's plants that make air conditioners, refrigerators and cell phones.
Changhong's Shanghai-listed shares were down 2.9 percent at 6.70 yuan in early trade on Monday, compared with a 1 percent drop in the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC. The shares fell 4.8 percent on Friday on concerns over the impact of the quake.
Several other firms with operations in Sichuan Province have reported damage from last Monday's 7.9 magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 30,000.
Dongfang Electrical Machinery Co (1072.HK) (600875.SS) said a gas turbine plant was severely damaged at a unit that accounts for about one-fifth of its turnover. The firm's Hong Kong shares plummeted 14.3 percent to HK$25.70 on Friday.
Sichuan Hongda Co (600331.SS), whose shares remain suspended from trade, said on Friday its non-ferrous metals and chemicals plants had been damaged. ($1=6.990 Yuan) (Reporting by Joseph Chaney; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
