Lucent Posts First-Quarter Loss

Lucent Technologies Inc.

The Murray Hill, N.J.-based company reported an operating loss of $757 million, or a loss of 23 cents a share, compared with a loss of $1.437 billion, or a loss of 42 cents a share, in the same period last year.

Analysts had expected Lucent, the world's largest maker of telecom gear, to lose 24 cents, with a range of losses of 23 cents to 26 cents, according to market research firm Thomson Financial/First Call.

Revenues from ongoing operations fell to $3.47 billion from $3.8 billion last year. Its fourth-quarter revenues were $4.8 billion.

Lucent said last month that its first-quarter loss would be larger than Wall Street then expected because of the prolonged spending slowdown. It said its loss from continuing operations would be between 23 cents and 26 cents on revenues ranging between $3.1 billion and $3.4 billion.

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