PARIS—Telecoms equipment maker Alcatel said it suffered its second deficit in its history with a $4.27 loss in 2001, although the French supplier looks forward to a profitable 2002.
In its fourth-quarter results, its sales dropped to $5.82 billion, above analyst estimates, while it recorded an operating loss of $316.8 million compared with a profit of $832 million a year ago.
“We expect 2002 to remain challenging,” said Chief Executive Officer Serge Tchuruk. “Even if the markets remain soft, from the second quarter we see sequential growth in quarterly sales and operating income with full-year income from operations turning positive.”
