BANGKOK -- Asia's big corporations posted record profits in 2017 following several lackluster years, with the technology sector in particular taking advantage of solid demand for devices like smartphones and consumer appliances.
Samsung Electronics was the region's most profitable company last year, taking home a net profit of 41.3 trillion won ($38.7 billion) up from 22.4 trillion won a year earlier. Semiconductors were a key driver of the growth, as chip prices rose amid a strong economic expansion around the world, and Samsung made serious inroads into contract chip manufacturing.
