Matsushita, Hitachi In Plasma Display Deal

Matsushita (Panasonic) and Hitachi will wrap up the deal today as the two companies try to get a handle on the current market as prices dive and competition increases.

The presidents of the two companies will give a news conference Monday detailing the agreement, both sides said Monday.

South Korean manufacturers are turning up the heat with increased plasma panel production. As a result margins are shrinking and the Japanese electronics manufacturers have to find new ways to be profitable.

Hitachi announced last week that they would be buying technology from rival Fujitsu and taking an 80 percent stake in their PDP venture with the company.

Sony Electronics has gone on record as stating they would be focusing on liquid-crystal displays. But then again, Sony is already partnered with Samsung Electronics in the LCD business.