TAIPEI, Apr 28 (AP) -- BenQ Corp., Taiwan's largest maker of mobile phone handsets and computer peripherals, said Thursday its net profit for the first quarter plunged 90 percent from a year ago because profit from investments dropped, flat-screen monitor prices fell and mobile-phone shipments declined.

The company said its net profit in the first three months of this year fell to 300 million New Taiwan dollars (US$9.55 million; €7.39 million), from NT$3.07 billion the same period a year ago.

That compares with a net profit of NT$200 million in the fourth quarter of 2004, the company said in a statement.

In addition to mobile phones, BenQ also makes computer peripherals, including projectors and liquid-crystal-display monitors.

Consolidated revenue for the January-March period totaled NT$32.33 billion (US$1.02 billion; €797.15 million), compared with the year-earlier NT$42.22 billion.

BenQ's profit from investments for the first quarter was NT$290 million (US$9.23 billion; €7.15 billion), down from NT$1.33 billion in the same period of 2004.

The lower figure stemmed partly from BenQ's investment losses in LCD panel affiliate AU Optronics Corp., analysts said.

AU Optronics, the world's third-largest maker of LCD panels, Tuesday reported its second consecutive quarterly loss for the January-March period, as the prices of its liquid-crystal displays fell.

AU said its net loss in the three months ended March 31 was NT$2.13 billion (US$67.84 million; €52.51 million), reversing a net profit of NT$11.67 billion for the first quarter last year.

BenQ said it expects its second-quarter revenue to be flat compared with the first quarter.