Toshiba recalls more Sony PC batteries

(Adds details, background, closing share prices)

TOKYO, July 19 (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp. (6502.T) said on Thursday it has recalled more Sony Corp. (6758.T) laptop computer batteries due to fire risk, rekindling concerns over the safety of Sony-made batteries.

Toshiba is replacing a total 10,000 battery packs after three of its laptop PCs using battery cells made on Dec. 3, 2005 caught fire in the last 10 months. No one was hurt in the incidents.

Only 5,100 units of the 10,000 packs are potentially defective, but Toshiba is recalling double the amount to make sure all the battery packs containing targeted battery cells are exchanged.

Sony last year recalled 9.6 million PC batteries as they could catch fire from overheating in rare occasions, costing Sony 51 billion yen ($418 million).

The recall of the 10,000 Sony-made batteries comes on top of the 9.6 million units targeted in the previous exchange programme.

A Sony spokesman said the financial impact should be limited as the size of the recall is relatively small this time.

Shares in Sony closed up 0.6 percent at 6,370 yen, while Toshiba slid 1.6 percent to 1,115 yen. The Nikkei average .N225 was up 0.56 percent.

($1=121.95 Yen)

((Reporting by Mayumi Negishi and Kiyoshi Takenaka, editing by Malcolm Whittaker; Reuters Messaging: mayumi.negishi.reuters.com@reuters.net; +81-3-3432-8618; mayumi.negishi@reuters.com)) Keywords: TOSHIBA SONY/BATTERIES

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