European orders for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 decreased by 27%, compared to the corresponding prior year period, and included an unfavorable currency impact of 7%, when translating foreign orders to U.S. dollars. The decrease in orders was driven primarily by decreased customer demand for Hurco and Takumi machines in Germany and France, partially offset by increased customer demand for Hurco machines in Italy and the United Kingdom.
Asian Pacific orders for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 decreased by 55%, compared to the corresponding prior year period, and included an unfavorable currency impact of 4%, when translating foreign orders to U.S. dollars. The decrease in Asian Pacific orders was driven primarily by a decrease in customer demand for Hurco and Takumi machines in China, Southeast Asia, and India.
Gross Profit. Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 was $12.7 million, or 23% of sales, compared to $16.9 million, or 25% of sales, for the corresponding prior year period. The year-over-year decrease in gross profit as a percentage of sales was primarily due to the lower volume of sales of vertical milling machines across all sales regions, particularly the European sales region where we typically sell more of our higher-performance, higher-priced VMX series machines. Additionally, gross profit was negatively impacted by the allocation of fixed costs on lower sales and production volumes.
Operating Expenses. Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 were $11.5 million, or 21% of sales, compared to $11.7 million, or 17% of sales, in the corresponding fiscal year 2022 period, and included a favorable currency impact of $0.6 million, when translating foreign expenses to U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes.
Operating Income. Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 was $1.2 million compared to $5.2 million for the corresponding period in fiscal year 2022. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to lower volume of sales and negative impact of allocation of fixed costs on lower sales and production volume.
Other Income (Expense), Net. Other income (expense), net for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 increased by $0.9 million compared to the corresponding period in fiscal year 2022, due mainly to an increase in foreign currency exchange gains in the first three months of fiscal year 2023 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2022.
Income Taxes. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 was 31%, compared to 32% in the corresponding prior year period. The year-over-year decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in geographic mix of income and loss that include jurisdictions with differing tax rates and a discrete item related to stock compensation.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At January 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $56.9 million, compared to $63.9 million at October 31, 2022. Approximately 30% of the $56.9 million of cash and cash equivalents was denominated in U.S. Dollars. The balance was attributable to our foreign operations and is held in the local currencies of our various foreign entities, subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. We do not believe that the indefinite reinvestment of these funds offshore impairs our ability to meet our domestic working capital needs.
Working capital was $204.3 million at January 31, 2023, compared to $194.7 million at October 31, 2022. The increase in working capital was primarily driven by increases in inventories, net and prepaid assets and decreases in accrued payroll and employee benefits and accounts payable, partially offset by decreases in cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable, net.
Capital expenditures of $0.6 million during the first three months of fiscal year 2023 were primarily for capital improvements in existing facilities and software development costs. We funded these expenditures with cash on hand.
On January 6, 2023, we announced a share repurchase program in an aggregate amount of up to $25.0 million. Repurchases under the program may be made in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions from time to time through November 10, 2024, subject to applicable laws, regulations, and contractual provisions. The program may be amended, suspended, or discontinued at any time and does not commit us to repurchase any shares of our common stock. No amounts had been purchased under this program as of January 31, 2023.
Our prior $7.0 million share repurchase program also remains in effect until its scheduled expiration on March 10, 2023 During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, approximately 26,819 shares were repurchased at an aggregate value of approximately $0.7 million under that program, resulting in $3.4 million remaining available under that program as of January 31, 2023.