Fears mount over Microsoft job losses

Microsoft Corp's biggest reduction in company history could cost China more than 1,000 jobs, analysts warned on Friday.

They also fear new CEO Satya Nadella's massive downsizing plan - which will focus on the device-making segment - may not work well in China, the world's largest smartphone producer and buyer.

Microsoft announced on Thursday plans to lay off as many as 18,000 employees globally in the next year as it tries to absorb the handset group recently acquired from Nokia Oyj and squeeze operating costs in other units.