New CEO Thomas Merk reports 29% sequential rise in unit sales of high-power fiber lasers.

Module conversion efficiency at the company's lead production line now averaging 16.2%.

Spectra-Physics in the firing line as divisional sales drop 11% sequentially.

'Laser Solutions' division largely responsible for sharp increase in annual net income.

Year on year quarter sales up 23% to $43m, net losses fall 36% to $4.1m.

Revenue and profit downward shifts were "partially offset" by a healthy sequential expansion in gross profit percentage.

Record sales of $235m due to strength in materials processing and high power laser sales.

Earnings margin up to 9.5%; revenue up 12%; carve-out of lamps business set for spring 2016.

Solid-state technology accounts for 40% of Philips' total lighting sales in latest quarter.

Acquisition of the imaging sensor firm by Chinese private equity group still subject to regulatory approval.

Sales rise 5 per cent despite sale of German firm's medical business a year ago, suggest preliminary figures.

Analyst report mirrors recent comments by First Solar CEO and suggests that annual market for PV installations will exceed $150BN in less than a decade.