Japanese technology giant Rakuten Group posted a net loss in the January-September period for the fifth straight year. That's largely due to the increasing costs of setting up base stations in its mobile phone business.

Rakuten says the net loss stood at 208.4 billion yen, or about 1.4 billion dollars. In contrast, sales marked a record for the nine-month period, coming in at 1.49 trillion yen, or nearly 10 billion dollars. Earnings of online retailing and financial businesses were solid.

Rakuten says it aims to make its mobile phone business profitable in fiscal 2026.

The group faces the challenge of consolidating its financial standing. From next year, it's due to start redeeming the huge volume of bonds issued to fund the installation of base stations.

Meanwhile, Japanese lender Mizuho Financial Group says it will raise its holdings of Rakuten Securities from the current 20 percent to 49 percent.

The additional investment is expected to amount to 576 million dollars. Rakuten Securities apparently aims to raise funds for its parent Rakuten Group.