In its latest earnings guidance, Samsung Electronics Co. reported that its operating profit likely fell 69% last quarter, the lowest in eight years.  The world's largest smartphone, memory chip, and TV maker has been crushed by declining prices and weak demand for its products during the economic slowdown. According to preliminary numbers, Samsung's October-December operating profit fell to 4.3 trillion won ($3.37B) from 13.87 trillion won ($10.9B) a year earlier, its smallest quarterly profit since 2014. Sales for the quarter were reportedly down by 9%, reaching 70 trillion Korean won ($55.1B).  All of Samsung's businesses have faced challenges recently, though its chips and mobile units have been especially impacted, according to Lee Min-hee, a BNK Investment & Securities analyst. Samsung intends to provide its full financial statement on Jan. 31.  Samsung's Q4 preliminary results appeared worse than its Q3 earnings. During that quarter, its operating profit fell more than 31%, its first decline in three years, amid the downturn in the chip memory market. In October, Samsung named its heir and de facto leader, Lee Jae-yong, as its executive chairman.