Nokia announces stronger than expected earnings in the third quarter of this year

Nokia announced on Thursday a stronger-than-expected earnings thanks to the success of its business growth in China to offset weak demand in North America and Europe, also announced a new plan to return the shareholders' equity.

The Finnish company, which occupies the third place in the network equipment market, it would restore four billion euros ($ 4.4 billion) to shareholders in the coming years through dividends and share buybacks.

And was able to Nokia, which has secured this month regulatory approval for the takeover - the $ 15.6 billion euros (17.1 billion dollars) - the French rival "Alcatel-Lucent", accelerate the deadline to achieve cost savings for the transaction, amounting to 900 million euros, one year to the 2018.

The company announced operating profit in the unit affiliate networks, reached during the third quarter of this year, 391 million euros, or 13.6% of sales. With less than what they achieved last year of profits, which amounted to 397 million euros, but it was higher than analysts' expectations, which were estimated at 297 million euros, according to a Reuters poll.

The Nokia raised its earnings forecast for the full year unit networks. She said that the operating profit margin will reach or slightly less than the long-term target of 8-11%, compared with the previous forecast for the margin closer to the middle of this range.

It is noteworthy that Nokia sold last year in the mobile phone sector and services to Microsoft, and in August / August, agreed to transfer ownership of its mapping service, "Hare", for German car makers.