TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Sony Opens U.S. Tube Plant: Sony Electronics Inc. opened a $50-million factory in San Diego where it will make color picture tubes for computer monitors in a move to lower its production and shipping costs. Sony is the first company to make the tubes--known as cathode-ray tubes--in the United States. It’s also the first Sony division to make the tubes outside of Japan. The tubes made at the plant will be used for high-resolution computer graphic displays. Sony’s production costs will be helped by the weaker dollar compared to the yen, and shipping costs will fall because of the plant’s proximity to market, analysts said. Although the dollar has strengthened from 80.62 yen in April to 96.51 yen Monday, a dollar was worth 143.93 yen only five years ago.