Samsung Electronics first-quarter profit likely over $5.2 bn

Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd will likely report a first-quarter operating profit of more than 6 trillion won (USD 5.2 billion), exceeding market expectations, South Korea's Korea Economic Daily reported on Wednesday.

Citing an unnamed source, the paper said January-March earnings for the world's top smartphone maker were boosted by strong sales of the flagship Galaxy S7 smartphones that went on sale in March as well as a weaker South Korean won.

Thomson Reuters StarMine SmartEstimate tips a 5.2 trillion won profit for the period.

Samsung Electronics could not be immediately reached for comment.