TeliaSonera gets boost from emerging markets
NORDIC telecoms firm TeliaSonera said yesterday it saw higher sales and margins this year boosted by recovery at home and rapid growth in emerging markets after reporting in line quarterly profits.
TeliaSonera, Europe’s fifth-biggest operator by market capitalisation said it expected sales in local currencies excluding acquisitions to grow four per cent this year, though the strong Swedish crown could impact reported figures.
Costs will grow less than sales, Telia said, and the core profit margin is expected to rise compared with 2010.
The company also said it would buy back around 10bn Swedish crowns (£962m) of shares and raised its dividend to 2.75 crowns per share from 2.25 crowns.
TeliaSonera’s fourth-quarter earnings before were 9.0bn crowns, in line with expectations and flat year-on-year.