Nokia volatile after earnings rally

Shares in telecom equipment maker Nokia saw volatile early trade today after yesterday's earnings relief rally, and brokers forecast…

Shares in telecom equipment maker Nokia saw volatile early trade today after yesterday's earnings relief rally, and brokers forecast a bumpy session due to a convergence of technical factors.

At 8.30 a.m. Nokia was off 0.3 per cent at euro 27.70, reversing a positive open after yesterday's 13 per cent surge. The stock is well below its June 2000 life-high of euro 65.0.

Brokers said Nokia would be caught between selling pressure from profit takers after the stock's strong gains yesterday and buying support from a rejigging of the Euro Stoxx 50 index which will boost Nokia's weighting.

Yesterday, Nokia reiterated its first-quarter earnings forecast of flat year-on-year earnings per share of euro 0.19 euros but admitted it was not immune to reduced demand for mobile phones, announcing a reduction in its first-quarter sales growth forecast amid an economic slowdown in the United States.