08/08/2001

Cisco’s massive drop in profits triggers FTSE fall

Internet networking giant Cisco has reported an 86 per cent drop in earnings.

The results were revealed as part of the company’s third quarter profits and were in line with analyst forecasts.

The California-based firm released the figures after the close of US stock markets, which were in line with Wall Street hopes, and prompted a marginal rise in Cisco shares in after-hours trading.

However, in London the FTSE 100 Index dropped almost 100 points as a result of the figures. City analysts believe that the fall in shares were a result of both the figures and a report by Cisco that there could be more bad news for the tech sector before any recovery is seen.

The figures, viewed as a key indicator of the health of the US tech sector, is also be scrutinised on Wednesday by investors worldwide.

Tuesday's figures also revealed that, including one-off items, net income fell 99 per cent to $7 million, and the same period last year it booked a profit of $796 million.

The firm, which had forecast sales would drop by up to 10 per cent, said takings had actually fallen 25 per cent to $4.30 billion. (MB)

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