Nokia said today it was confident about reaching its fourth-quarter targets and said it expected sales growth of 15 per cent and good profitability for 2002 as it battles tough market conditions.
The Finnish mobile phone maker said it expected to see 25-35 per cent sales growth during the fourth quarter of 2002 at the latest. Earlier, it had said it expected to reach this some time during 2002.
It also said it expected flat to slightly positive networks market growth for 2002. It saw a slight drop in revenue growth for the first quarter of 2002.
Nokia said it expected to see 420 million to 440 million phones sold in the industry globally next year, slightly more conservative than a 420 million to 460 million forecast by rival Motorola.
The news was part of a presentation by Nokia chief executive Mr Jorma Ollila during the company's capital markets day in New York for analysts and investors.
Last month Nokia, which makes one-third of all mobile phones sold, said it expected fourth-quarter pro forma earnings per share to fall to 18-20 cents, down from 0.25 cents in last-year's fourth quarter, as it battles weak global demand.